As trash plagued encampments continue to proliferate in our city’s public spaces, it has become clearer than ever that Anchorage’s homelessness problem has reached a crisis level.

Homelessness in our community has spiraled into an undeniable catastrophe. The sight of individuals living in tents scattered across our parks, in front of our businesses, or seeking refuge in our public buildings, has become a shaming, yet defining, image of our community. Anchorage finds itself traveling towards a crucial fork in the road, where decisions made by our leaders, or the lack thereof, will have profound and lasting consequences on the most vulnerable members of our population.

And driving that bus, seemingly straight towards the cliffs of catastrophe, is the Anchorage Assembly. A governing body whose repeated inaction on homelessness has exacerbated the problem to the point of devastation, and left countless Alaskans in desperate and disheartening situations.

The Scope of the Crisis

According to the latest data from the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, published at the end of July, there were 2,940 people actively experiencing homelessness in Anchorage, an unacceptable statistic by any administrative standard. Most of these Alaskan residents, who, due to increasing rent, a shortage of affordable housing, addiction, mental health issues, or some combinations thereof, have found themselves in a dire situation.

When you factor in the geographic context and consider the sledgehammer of extreme weather that winter will surely bring, you can certainly recognize the fact that homelessness in Anchorage is not a mere matter of public discomfort, social inconvenience, or government inadequacy, it is a matter of life and death.

The Irony of Inaction

The first step in solving any problem is admitting you have one, and as a community, I think we can all agree that this is a problem. The irony of our situation is that we also have a fairly good idea of how to solve the problem and, more importantly, who is responsible for pulling us out of the muck of homelessness. Yet, despite the obvious evidence directly in front of their faces (and one that they likely drive or walk pass by on a daily basis), the Anchorage Assembly has displayed a demoralizing pattern of inaction, or at best, half-step measures.

Make no mistake about it, the Anchorage Assembly has both the capacity and the capability to find a solution. It is the Anchorage Assembly, after all, that wields the financial power over budget allocations, the influence in shaping policy direction, and the final approval of any plans aimed at addressing this crisis.

In recent years, its efforts have been largely characterized by hesitation, delay, and political infighting. Various proposals aimed at tackling homelessness have been brought forward, but few have been meaningfully considered or funded to a degree that would yield tangible and vital results. Even now with a new mayor straight from their ranks, we are still seeing the same old.

Winter Approaches—The Clock is Ticking

Each winter, as temperatures plummet and the legacy of inaction persists, the lives of our homeless population are again threatened. There is clearly an urgent need for shelters, yet year after year, the Assembly has struggled to come to a consensus on the locations and funding for these shelters, all while holding the keys to both the budget and the planning resources.

Temporary solutions like using the Sullivan Arena as a makeshift shelter (at a price tag of over $1 million per month), offered only a band-aid approach. While the Assembly wasted time, money, and lives, spinning the next temporary measure. This year being no different, the newest plan from the Assembly is to temporarily place individuals in hotels, to the tune of $9 million. Again, just enough to buy them more time to spin the next temporary measure.

The lack of meaningful progress on homelessness issue is not just a reflection of neglect, but also a series of failed opportunities. In 2020, the Municipality of Anchorage received $156 million in federal funds to provide support to individuals and families in need as the community navigated the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, a portion of which were earmarked for the development of programs to support “…renters, landlords, home and property owners, and individuals experiencing homelessness.” 

The Assembly let this opportunity slip through their fingers, formulating no lasting solutions.

A Call for Leadership

The Anchorage Assembly must recognize that inaction and political posturing is no longer an option. The city’s homeless crisis is growing, and it is not going to resolve itself. Band-aiding the problem with temporary shelters and half-hearted measures is only serving to kick the can down the road.

What is required is a comprehensive, well-funded approach that addresses the root causes of homelessness, including affordable housing, mental health services, and addiction services. While the causes of homelessness are surely complex, the lack of decisive leadership and the refusal to prioritize long-term solutions is a moral failure that has allowed this crisis to proliferate.

Anchorage needs a bold, compassionate approach to homelessness, one that reflects the values of its residents and ensures that no one is left out in the cold.

Keith is a lifelong Alaskan. He served in the Marine Corps as an Infantryman for five years, then started a software company that got him recognized as “Alaska’s Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2018. He now works as a PA-C, with a Doctorate in Medical Science, providing healthcare to his fellow Alaskans.