Homelessness
RSSAnchorage unsheltered population, cold-weather shelter policy, housing-first initiatives, encampment cleanups, permanent supportive housing
Alaska districts can use homeless-education funds for emergency motel rooms, federal guidance says
Alaska districts can now use federal homeless-education funds to pay for emergency motel rooms when shelter beds are unavailable, under new U.S. Department of Education guidance.
by Walter AlaskaNews2d ago2 min readAI
Anchorage's camping ordinance produces plenty of compliance — but few people taking services, and homelessness still visible
Anchorage police contacted 1,085 people under the camping ban since August 2025, but only 72 accepted services, raising questions about enforcement paired with outreach.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min readAI
A year in, Anchorage's camping ordinance mostly moves people along, not into services
A year of Anchorage's camping ordinance: 89% of contacts end without arrest, but 890 of 962 people who complied left with no referral to services. The Assembly reviews it Tuesday.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAI
Anchorage homeless residents tell Assembly: shelters worse than jail
Two sets of lived experience meet at Anchorage's homelessness debate: those in shelters and those who watched encampments grow.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min readAI
Anchorage sees 28% drop in unsheltered homelessness as shelters reach capacity
Anchorage officials say there are fewer people sleeping unsheltered in Anchorage, but it was pretty cold all winter.
by Cale Green2mo ago3 min readAI
Juneau neighbors want a homeless camp cleared after a reported bear shooting
Neighbors near Juneau's Governor's Mansion want a homeless camp cleared after a camper reportedly shot a bear — a flashpoint in Alaska's rising camp tension.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAI
True North dropped crisis services from Fairview plan after months of pushback
Fairview pushed back. True North revised. No more crisis services in the Fairview building — outpatient and a mobile van instead.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
A Pacific Islander nonprofit told an Anchorage homelessness commission its housing assistance program is over-subscribed — and asked for city funding to expand it
Polynesian Association seeks Anchorage funding for housing assistance
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Anchorage Assembly to vote on $500K shelter contract increase as earlier amendments used Title 7 waivers
Anchorage Assembly votes Tuesday on a $500,000 shelter contract increase, bringing the total to nearly $4.93 million.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Cold-injury hospitalizations rose among Alaska's unhoused over the past decade, state finds
Nearly one in four Alaskans hospitalized for cold injuries between 2012 and 2021 were unhoused, a rate that climbed steadily over the decade while housed residents stayed flat.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Free daily meals and pantries available across Anchorage in August
A free hot meal is available somewhere in Anchorage every day this month, plus two dozen food pantries citywide. Call 211 or check anchoragefood.org for the schedule.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI
Nearly $1 million for Anchorage's safety net goes to an Assembly vote
Anchorage's Assembly votes July 7 on nearly $978,000 for nine nonprofits that feed the homeless, shelter abuse survivors, and help families and kids in crisis.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Anchorage treatment facility debate exposes gaps in public process
The Housing and Homelessness Action Commission meeting became a forum for community concerns about a proposed True North Recovery treatment facility in Fairview, highlighting tensions between municipal funding requirements and neighborhood engagement.
by Alaska News3mo ago4 min readAI
Anchorage Assembly approves True North deflection contract with APD
Anchorage Assembly approved a contract with True North Recovery to connect people arrested for low-level offenses to treatment instead of jail, funded by opioid settlement money.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Homer posts conflicting times for Tuesday's council work session
The City of Homer has posted two different start times for a May 19, 2026 council work session on different pages of its website, with no agenda yet available.
by Alaska News2mo ago1 min readAIAnchorage Assembly to vote on $1.35M in supportive housing grants
Five Anchorage nonprofits would split $1.35M for supportive housing on June 23. The pandemic-era funding clock is still ticking.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min readAI
An Anchorage shelter contract has grown from $1 million to nearly $5 million in a year
A homeless-shelter contract the Anchorage Assembly approved at $1 million a year ago has grown to nearly $5 million. It votes on another $500,000 increase Wednesday.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min readAI
Anchorage Assembly set to award $1.35M in homeless housing grants to five nonprofits
Anchorage Assembly votes June 23 on $1.35 million in housing grants to five nonprofits serving homeless people and domestic violence survivors.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
House Panel Hears Bill to Waive ID Fees for Homeless Young Adults
House Bill 334 would eliminate state fees for identification documents and birth certificates for homeless adults aged 18-25, while expanding address verification options.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min readAI