Anchorage sees 28% drop in unsheltered homelessness as shelters reach capacity

The 2026 Point-in-Time Count recorded 291 people sleeping outside on January 26, down 28% from 402 in 2025, while municipal shelters operated at 100% capacity. The count occurred during one of Anchorage's coldest winters in years, when extreme temperatures drove many unhoused residents to seek indoor solutions.

Year-round shelter model debuts

Anchorage maintained 300 year-round beds at three facilities for the first time: East 56th Avenue, Linda's Place, and the Alex. Between November 2025 and April 2026, the system added 150 surge beds, bringing total capacity to 450 during the coldest months. All municipal shelter beds were full on the night of the count.

Of 160 unsheltered individuals surveyed, 85 cited lack of available beds as the reason they were not in shelter. Thea Agnew-Benben, special assistant to Mayor Suzanne LaFrance on homelessness, health, and community safety, told the Assembly's Housing and Homelessness Committee on Wednesday that shelter providers reported 85 turnaways on a recent weekend in early May. That figure is duplicated across multiple facilities, suggesting approximately 40 actual turnaways.

As spring temperatures moderate outdoor conditions, demand for shelter typically increases. Agnew-Benben noted that bed turnover has slowed because people staying in shelter know they may not regain a bed if they leave.

Administration seeks 170 additional beds

The administration estimates meeting current demand requires 100 additional year-round beds at East 56th Avenue, 50 surge beds at Linda's Place for November and December, 20 beds at the non-congregate site, and night-only shelter during the coldest periods. The total cost would be approximately $2.45 million annually beyond the current budget.

Assembly Member Erin Baldwin Day asked whether the data could quantify true demand for shelter, noting that utilization rates of 93% or higher suggest the system operates at or beyond capacity.

Shelter usage and outcomes

The count showed 2,704 unique clients used emergency shelter in the first quarter of 2026, with median stays of eight to 50 days for individuals and 30 to 41 days for families. Of those exiting shelter, 42% left to unknown locations, 24% to another homeless location, and 12% to permanent housing.

The administration reported that 72% of people housed from homelessness two years prior remained housed in 2025. The HOPE team placed 18 individuals into shelter or housing in the first quarter of 2026.