Number of people experiencing homelessness in Anchorage drops slightly
The Coalition’s Mac Lyons and Meg Zaletel help conduct the 2024 Point-In-Time Count.
Our community’s annual Point-in-Time count was conducted over three days and asked where people who were unsheltered or unhoused slept the night of Jan. 29, 2024.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires that Continuums of Care, or networks of services, conduct the counts to receive federal funding.
Who was counted: People sleeping outdoors — in tents, vehicles, alcoves, and other places not meant for human habitation — as well as those staying in shelters and transitional, or temporary, housing.
Who did the count: The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness led the count of those who were unsheltered. Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Catholic Social Services, Covenant House, RurAL CAP, SALA and Veterans Affairs contributed staff. The Institute for Community Alliances collected reports from shelters and housing programs.
Unsheltered count methodology: Teams visited camps reported to the Municipality of Anchorage by the public or identified by street outreach staff. They provided food, gloves, hats, handwarmers and other needed items as they collected information.
Challenges with the count: Below zero temperatures, heavy snowfall, the transitory nature of homelessness, and a narrow federal definition of homelessness all can contribute to an undercount of those who are unsheltered.
For the first time, Anchorage participants were asked what factors contributed to their homelessness.
23% couldn’t pay rent or their mortgage.
10% were asked to leave their residence or had been evicted.
9% lost their job or couldn’t find work.
7% reported alcohol or substance misuse
Our unsheltered neighbors who took part in the count include:
93 people with at least one disabling condition.
72 experiencing homelessness for the first time.
26 people over the age of 55.
12 veterans.
5 people fleeing domestic violence.
3 families with minor children.
Anchorage shelters and housing for people experiencing homelessness are typically full or nearly full.
Emergency Shelter - Year Round: 761
Emergency Shelter - Seasonal: 599
Transitional Housing: 319
Rapid Rehousing: 268
Permanent Supportive Housing: 721
Other Permanent Housing: 215
Total shelter and housing inventory: 2,883
91% of spaces used
Questions about the count? Get in touch with us at communications@aceh.org