Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) has been administering a demonstration project over the last three years to increase culturally appropriate independent living services in the region. The project is called Independent Living Services for Alaska Natives with Disabilities (IL STAND) and serves about 100 people, including elders and people with disabilities.

Each year SAIL serves approximately 1,200 Elders and people with disabilities across Southeast Alaska.

“Federal funding for the IL STAND demonstration project ends September 30, 2019,” says Gail Dabaluz, project coordinator. “It also appears SAIL could lose significant state of Alaska funds beginning fiscal year 2020. With Sealaska’s commitment of $50,000, we can continue in a scaled-down version and assure long-term sustainability of improved independent living services.”

“When organizations like SAIL partner with other organizations for common goals, it makes an investment by Sealaska an easy decision,” said Sealaska President and CEO Anthony Mallott.

SAIL maintains offices in Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. Through the IL STAND project, SAIL was able to provide services in six additional Southeast communities including Angoon, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Kake, Klawock and Yakutat.

SAIL is reaching out to potential new partners like Sealaska to secure new funding to maintain the program. This fall, SAIL will present at the 2019 National Council on Independent Living to share achievements and lessons learned through the demonstration project.

Sealaska contributed $50,000 to SAIL to sustain a scaled-down version of the project. SAIL already partners with Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Catholic Community Services, Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority, and the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.