Our Story
​​We all have a story, lived experiences, and talent that deserve recognition. What sets Henning Inc. apart from other organizations is our personal lived experience with homelessness, addiction, and extreme poverty; our firsthand experiences drive us to roll up our sleeves and pull others out of despair. Most of our founders and staff have already been in our clients’ shoes, empowering us to walk beside them to recovery and housing.
2020
May
When Shannon Henning was killed, Founder and Executive Director Shawn Hays was at a loss for how Anchorage was responding to our homeless crisis. After asking herself what she was going to do about it, Shawn rolled up her sleeves and formed Henning Inc. to honor Shannon's memory.
December
Henning Inc. earns its 501c3 designation from the IRS as Shawn meets Rob Seay while at the Aviator Hotel, who was then working with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council. Through shared lived experience and a vision for our community, the two immediately hit off.
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2021
Build out
Shawn and Rob hit the ground running championing and advocating for Alaskans experiencing homelessness, working to build relationships with the community and stakeholders while growing Henning Inc.
2022
May
As a two-man team, Henning Inc. launches its first project, housing 80 Alaskans in the Aviator Hotel.
June
With the addition of Crystal Abbott and Sarah Hall-Wright and partnering with Mountain View Health Services, Henning provides behavioral health services for unsheltered Alaskans living in camps across Anchorage.
July - September
Now as a team of four, Henning works to distribute $900,000 of emergency rental assistance to over 100 individuals and families experiencing homelessness or on the verge of homelessness.
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Henning's Master Lease program is created, providing a path for housing for people experiencing barriers to housing.
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Over 100 Alaskans living at the former Guest House receive peer support services.
October
To serve over 700 Alaskans, Henning stands up emergency cold weather shelter, growing from a team of four to over 100.
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To further provide needed resources, a Behavioral Health Advocate is hired to support 15 of the highest utilizers of services; services like emergency services and hospitals.
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Work Force Development Program launches, hiring former clients and others experiencing homelessness to work in shelter support operations.
Novemeber
To help support our transitional housing program, Henning was awarded $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
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2023
March
64 Alaskans are housed in master leased units.
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May
As emergency cold weather shelter ends, Henning stands up its street outreach operations. Our Street Outreach team meets unhoused Alaskans in encampments to provide hygiene, food, medical and weather-related supplies.
June - August
Housing 60 additional Alaskans using Emergency Housing Vouchers while providing tenancy support services and continuing work force development with the Glacier Lodge and several other local restaurants.
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Henning opens the former Golden Lion Hotel as low-income housing to 80 Alaskans experiencing homelessness.
October
Henning stands up emergency cold weather shelter operations at the Aviator Hotel, the Alex Hotel, and the Cold Weather Shelter.
2024
January - May
Operate emergency cold weather shelters at the Alex Hotel, the Aviator Hotel, and the congregate shelter in Midtown. Serving hundreds of Alaskans each day in the fight to end homelessness.
June - October
Continue the operations at the congregate shelter after the municipality request to extend services through the summer. Henning provided services to 2,200 of 3,200 Alaskans experiencing homelessness through our lived experience and peer support model during the 2023-2024 Emergency Cold Weather Operations.
October
Open emergency cold weather shelters at the Henning House, Merrill Field, and the Alex hotel providing shelter to 200 Alaskans within hours of signing the contract with the city.
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Launched Rocket Fuel to provide supplemental food to over 260 children attending Title One schools in Anchorage.
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Henning is named Non-Profit of the Year, an annual nomination voted on by community members.
December
Rob Seay leaves Henning Inc. to work on his legacy. Crystal Abbott steps into role as Deputy Executive Director.
Today
Continuing the work
​As a second chance employer, we proudly employ many Alaskans who would not have the same opportunity with other organizations. Proudly employing over 265 Alaskans who are a mix former clients who trusted the process.
Mission
Our mission is to serve, advocate, and house Anchorage's most vulnerable citizens by providing resources and services, offering an alternative to both institutionalized and unsheltered homelessness.
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Vision
We envision a community in which everyone has a place to call home and where homelessness is brief and solvable.
Values
Our lived experiences and values are what drive us to honor both Shannon Henning’s memory and our mission. At Henning Inc, we have six foundational values that are at the heart of what we do.
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