As we enter this winter season, let’s think strategically about how a seasonal winter response can be something more that sets our community up for success next summer.
Updated: 5 minutes agoAnchorage Coalition to End Homelessness executive director Meg Zaletel helps a person put on new gloves in the City Hall entry vestibule during the annual point in time count of people experiencing homelessness on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 in downtown Anchorage. The federally mandated count helps determine funding for homelessness responses.
First, where are we today? Today there are 2,940 people experiencing homelessness. Of those, 86% are in shelter or transitional housing. Unlike much of the West Coast or the nation, Anchorage’s homelessness population is mostly indoors. At present, only 14% of those experiencing homelessness are living outside. Also, homelessness is down below 3,000 people for the first time since January 2023.
What if we reduced the number of people headed outside in spring? Could Anchorage quickly house a significant number of people experiencing homelessness to reduce the number of people leaving emergency cold-weather shelter at the end of the season? With partnership from landlords, case managers, the Municipality, philanthropy and community contributions, we were able to move 150 people to housing with significant supports before winter seasonal shelter closed at the end of May.
This spring, as winter shelters closed and the summer started, Anchorage saw roughly 500 people living outside unsheltered. Our street outreach teams made sure we were making contact, providing life safety items and ensuring that we had everyone in our system and in line of housing programs. But that wasn’t enough. We also took our success from winter and used the same Next Step approach to close encampments directly to housing with supports.
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