Mayor LaFrance & ACDA celebrate construction of 32 microunits supporting recovery & stability
Mayor LaFrance & ACDA celebrate construction of 32 microunits supporting recovery & stability
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance and the Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA) joined community partners today to celebrate construction progress on the Microunits for Recovery Residences at the site of the new transitional housing and behavioral health treatment project, located near the Elmore Permit Center. "Each of these microunits represents a chance at recovery and stability for real people in our community; said Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. “I am so excited to see this innovative project launch, and to test out this low-cost, low-barrier recovery program right here in Anchorage. This is a model that can be replicated by others to create even more pathways to stability in our community."
The project includes 32 finished microunits, a community gathering space and office spaces, and fully plumbed bathrooms and showers. Local builder Visser Construction completed all units in less than 120 days.
This two-year pilot project is a key element of Mayor LaFrance's Homelessness and Health Strategy. The units will provide transitional living for people for experiencing homelessness who are participating in the substance use treatment program. Participants are expected to stay for 6-12 months before transitioning to permanent housing. ACDA is overseeing the construction, infrastructure and maintenance of the site. “These microunits demonstrate what can be achieved when partners come together with purpose,” said Mike Robbins, Executive Director of ACDA. “They provide dignity, stability, and a pathway to long-term recovery—and importantly, this entire project is funded without using any taxpayer dollars.”
Funding for construction comes entirely from $1.2 million in Opioid Settlement Funds and a philanthropic grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, through the Bloomberg Cities Idea Exchange initiative. This initiative accelerates the spread of successful civic solutions between cities around the world. The Municipality of Anchorage joined the Bloomberg Cities Idea Exchange and staff visited the City of Atlanta, which launched a similar project earlier in 2025.
The Municipality is currently finishing a competitive public procurement process to select a community behavioral health provider to operate the Recovery Residences. The selected provider will manage the residences and deliver services, including case management, behavioral health treatment, and other recovery supports. That contracting process is expected to wrap up later this month, and the Anchorage Health Department will oversee the contract. Startup costs for the operator—approximately $500,000—are also fully covered by Opioid Settlement Funds.
