Uksumi Uqisvik - Our Story

2020

In the spring of 2020, it became clear that the COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for a permanent homeless shelter and food security services. It also became clear that federal funding to defend against community spread and protect the most vulnerable to the virus would become available. A team organized consisting of BWH, BCSF and TWC board members and partners and technical experts Steve Fishback, architect and Martha Schoenthal, architect/project manager. The group evaluated land and existing facility options in Bethel. BWH identified a City-owned building and partnered with Bethel Community Services Foundation to commission a code and condition survey of the building (funded by Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority). BWH then partnered with the City of Bethel to secure the building and obtained a Conditional Use Permit; the City donated both the existing building and land. BWH then assembled most of the funding required, engaged an architect (Steve Fishback) and a project manager (Martha Schoenthal), hired a contractor (Collins Construction), and proceeded to renovate the facility providing the code-required life safety upgrades and made it habitable enough to operate as a homeless shelter in late December 2020. The contractor is returned to Bethel in late February-early March 2021 to finish the interior work, referred to as Phase 2. Furnishings installation is planned for April 2021. If additional funding is secured, BWH is planning for the contractor to mobilize again this summer to finish the Phase 3 exterior work, completing the renovation.

2018 - 2019

Bethel Winter House continued to lease space from and operate out of the Bethel Evangelical Covenant Church during the winter seasons.

2017

In 2017, the Salvation Army chose to discontinue staffed services in Bethel and sell their building. With the Salvation Army leaving town, the organization merged with the Bethel Lions Club and the Winter House became a sponsored project of the local Bethel Lions Club who provided both volunteer labor and financial support. The Bethel Covenant Church leased space within their building for the shelter from December 1, 2017 through April 1, 2018. That winter was the 5th year of continuous operation.

In 2017, the Bethel Winter house received a State of Alaska CIMG grant, allowing the shelter to hire two independent contractors each night for 10 hour shifts. The shelter still relies heavily on the generosity of individuals, organizations and businesses for financial contributions to maintain operations.

2015

In 2015, the Bethel Winter House joined forces with the Salvation Army, which provided services in Bethel for two years. They operated the Winter House shelter out of a building owned by the Salvation Army for two years.

2014

In 2014, the board decided to expand the operational calendar to provide services from the first day of December until the last day of March; the coldest time of the year.

2013

Fatalities due to exposure during the cold winter months in Bethel has been a long-standing issue. Prior to 2013, the number of exposure-related deaths each winter was around 4-7. In October 2013, the community had a meeting to discuss the issue of homelessness and brainstorm solutions to prevent future deaths.

At the meeting, community members expressed concern for people who were poorly dressed for the extreme cold and without a warm place to sleep other than the local women’s shelter and the Sobering Center. The acting manager of the Sobering Center told the group that in some instances, people would drink too much alcohol just to qualify to stay in the sobering center and out of the cold weather.

The group made the decision to organize as the Bethel Winter Shelter Lions Club. The Bethel Evangelical Covenant Church and the Catholic Church stepped forward and took turns hosting the shelter for a month at a time, from late December 2013 to March 2014. That first winter, the shelter operated seven nights a week with a staff of volunteers. Each day, they offered a hot meal in the evening and a quick breakfast in the morning. They also distributed donations of new socks and winter gear to clients when not in operation.

Fast Facts

• We are a grassroots, community-led 501(c)3 organization that relies almost entirely on donations and volunteers.

• The winter of 2020-21 will be the 8th year the shelter will be in operation.

• In 2018, the shelter opened on December 1st, and operated until March 31, 2018. The hours were 9pm to 7am every day.

• The shelter maintains an onsite security specialist from open at 9 PM until lights out at midnight.

• Most meals are provided by local volunteer cooks.

• The shelter does not turn away intoxicated people, as long as they can maintain and follow rules. In concerning cases, individuals will be sent to the hospital to be evaluated for placement at the Sobering Center. There is no alcohol allowed at the shelter, whatsoever.