Overview

Information on Alaska's homeless population including statistics, housing shortages, and health challenges.

Homelessness and health data

Homelessness in Alaska: By the Numbers

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Homelessness in Alaska: By the Numbers

The 2023 Point-In-Time (PIT) count for the State of Alaska showed a total of 2,614 individuals experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. This is a record high for the past 12 years. This included:

  • 1,764 individuals utilizing Emergency Shelter
  • 382 utilizing Transitional Housing
  • 468 unsheltered
  • 1,425 of those clients were in the Anchorage CoC

Note: The PIT count occurs in January, when our unsheltered population is much lower due to Cold Weather Emergency Shelter mandates in Anchorage.

In 2023:

  • 44.1% of Alaska’s population of PEH are American Indian/Alaska Native, yet they comprise only 15.2% of our state's population according to the 2020 Census
  • 45.1% of the PEH population self-report a disabling condition
  • 20.7% of the PEH population have a history of domestic violence
  • 16% of Alaskans live in poverty

According to the 2016 Housing Inventory Count (HIC), 15 of the 29 census areas in Alaska have no year-round emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, or permanent supportive housing facilities.

Source:
https://www.aceh.org/pit
https://www.aceh.org/data

Housing Inventory & Cost of Living

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Housing Inventory & Cost of Living

Alaska needs an estimated 27,500 housing units over the next 10 years across the income spectrum.

Units needed (new and rehabilitated) by community:

  • Kotzebue: 150 units
  • Bethel: 500 units
  • Mat-su: 7,000 units
  • Anchorage: 7,000 units
  • Kenai-Peninsula Borough: 1,500 units
  • Sitka: 300 units

Hourly wage necessary to afford a 2 bedroom (BR) Fair Market Rate (FMR) in Alaska: $26.32

Salary needed to afford a 2BR FMR in Alaska: $55,740

Full-time jobs needed at minimum wage to afford a 2BR at FMR: 2.4

Source: 
https://www.muni.org/Departments/health/HousingAndHomelessness/Pages/HousingServices.aspx

Data Matching with Local Health Care Systems

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Data Matching with Local Health Care Systems

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) often use hospitals and emergency care at a much higher rate than others. We are working with hospitals and those working with PEH to connect their data systems. This will allow a view into someone's previous care, ensuring needless duplication of effort does not happen.

Long term this will improve health outcomes for PEH, and it will decrease unnecessary Medicaid spending.

Source: https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/Homelessness-and-Health-Data-Sharing-Toolkit.pdf

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