Monday, February 10, 2025
spot_imgspot_img

Top 5 This Week

spot_imgspot_img

Related Posts

Alaska sees a dramatic increase in homelessness, but the data reveals a complex situation.


Vincent John Wulf, a homeless individual, was seen placing wood from a pallet into a warming barrel at Town Square Park on December 1, 2024. A recent federal report highlighted the alarming increase in homelessness in the U.S., reaching its highest level on record in January 2024 with an 18.1% rise over the previous year. Similarly, Anchorage and the state of Alaska have witnessed a rise in homelessness over the past few years.

The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness conducts a yearly count in January to assess the homeless population in the municipality, while the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness surveys other communities across the state. The count aims to be a consistent measure, although it may not capture the full extent of homelessness, especially in rural areas of Alaska.

Despite the increase in homelessness, there has been a significant rise in available services such as emergency shelters and street outreach. Alaska has seen an increase in emergency shelter beds in communities outside of Anchorage, potentially contributing to the uptick in homeless counts. The pandemic has led to changes in how homelessness is addressed, with mass shelters opening and more robust street outreach programs being implemented.

While efforts have been made to address homelessness in Anchorage, the monthly data shows fluctuations in the homeless population, with recent numbers indicating a rise in homelessness again. Factors such as rising housing costs and limited resources for preventing homelessness contribute to the ongoing challenge. On a positive note, Alaska has seen decreases in chronic homelessness and homeless veterans, despite the overall increase in homelessness rates.

Source
Photo credit www.adn.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Popular Articles