Homelessness & Health Data

Homelessness in Alaska: By the Numbers

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

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

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 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

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
• Bethel: 500
• Mat-Su: 7,000
• Anchorage: 7,000
• Kenai Peninsula Borough: 1,500
• Sitka: 300

Hourly wage necessary to afford a two-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:  

Anchorage Health Department Housing Services Division

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.

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

Source:

HUD Homelessness and Health Data-Sharing Toolkit