CBJ, AWARE to return state funds for new extended stay shelter

The Juneau Assembly will return an $850,000 dollar grant to the State of Alaska on Monday.

The money was awarded to the city as part of the state’s Community Development Block Grant program. It was intended to support AWARE’s construction of a new extended stay shelter for battered spouses and abused children.

AWARE and the city completed a required environmental review in March of this year. Although the site of the new shelter had been previously evaluated, the review revealed significant issues that made the project financially unfeasible.

Community Development Block Grant funds can’t be transferred to a project at a new site without submitting a new grant application to the state.

A resolution returning the money is on the agenda for Monday’s regular Assembly meeting. Doing so will allow the city to reapply for a community development grant during the next application cycle.

AWARE stands for Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies. The extended stay shelter was to be built adjacent to the nonprofit’s existing emergency shelter.

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