Change for the Better Program Components

The key element of Change for the Better is public education. A public education campaign was launched in May 2004 and a second was launched in June 2005. The public education campaign is the primary focus of Change for the Better and will increase understanding of this issue.

It is the hope of Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd. that this program will have two effects:

• Increased understanding of the social service agencies available to Anchorage’s homeless population.

• Encouragement to give money to the charities that provide these social services instead of to the panhandler directly.

Components

In 2004, Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Ltd. produced a series of informative posters about the Change for the Better program, all of which have been updated this year. Design work for the posters was donated by Rival Design Studio of Anchorage.

In addition, ADP produced pocket cards in 2004 that are scheduled to be revised and updated later this year. These pocket cards will be available in businesses and other public areas and will describe the options available for those in need, and will give the public alternatives to act if they are approached by a panhandler.

New to the Change for the Better program this year is this website -- designed to provide interested individuals with information about the program and related topics. Design work for the website was donated by Rival Design Studio of Anchorage. Hosting was donated by Rising Host web hosting service of Rockville, Maryland.