Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) is getting a little extra help in giving aid to Juneau’s senior citizen and disabled communities.
The Juneau Community Foundation’s (JCF) CBJ Social Service Fund is awarding SAIL with $85,000 for the 2018 fiscal year. These funds will go to various independent living services for senior citizens and those living with disabilities.
This is the second time the organization has received this funding, and SAIL Deputy Director Tristan Knutson-Lombardo said this is a vital contribution.
“We are incredibly grateful to have once again received support from the Juneau Community Foundation,” Knutson-Lombardo said in a release. “JCF’s continued support means seniors and people experiencing disabilities in Juneau continue to lead independent, dignified lives of their own choosing.”
Specifically, the money will help out with the Outdoor Recreation and Community Access (ORCA) and the Home Modifications for Aging in Peace (HomeMAP) programs, along with funding for medical equipment, peer support groups, advocacy efforts, disability awareness presentations and more. ORCA organizes year-round recreational retreats for people of all ages experiencing a disability. HomeMAP produces assessments that aim to find accessible housing for Juneau’s at-risk individuals, done in conjunction with the Juneau Coalition on Housing and Homelessness.
SAIL has offices in Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka, and it aims to “live as independently as possible,” according to its mission statement. Knutson-Lombardo said this donation proves that many people outside the organization share its goals.
“Local funders and supporters, such as the Juneau Community Foundation, show that we, as a community, are committed to that vision,” Knutson-Lombardo said.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated in the headline that the donation was from the city. The donation was from the Juneau Community Foundation. The headline has since been changed. The Empire regrets the error.
