Unalaska, AK – A new emergency, short-term housing shelter for men is in the works for Unalaska. The building will be called Alexandria House and will be constructed at the site of the old Elbow Room, across from the courthouse. One of the project's coordinators, Mark Horne, says it's not a homeless shelter. It's a place where men who don't have a place to stay can sleep overnight but during the day, the facility's doors will be shut. Horne says it's a way to help get people back on their feet and find a job, but it won't be a place that gives hand outs or let's people sit around and smoke or drink. He and his partner, John Honan, hope to have the ten to 15 bed facility completed by October of this year. He will not release any financial planning details or other specifics just yet.

Currently, U-SAFV provides limited, short-term housing for women in their shelter downtown. The organization can access funds to help provide temporary shelter for up to three days. They try to help them find employment that provides housing or a way off of the island. U-SAFV executive director M. Lynn Crane said a permanent shelter is necessary for people who move to the area not fully understanding the conditions and work requirements.

"When these folks come up and either quit or are fired, regardless of whether it's for good cause or not, many of them do not have tickets back to their place of hire because their employer is not obligated to provide that," she explained. "So they may find themselves with no money, not knowing anyone in the community, and with no place to stay."

Community discussions for a permanent shelter started a few years ago, but Crane said they did not lead anywhere. The Alexandria House project is independent of U-SAFV.