Homelessness on the rise in Alaska
A federal report of annual survey data published late last month showed that homelessness reached its highest level on record in the U.S. in January 2024, with an 18,1% increase over the previous year’s count.
The data also shows rises in homelessness in Anchorage and statewide in Alaska in recent years.
However, a closer look at the recent local trends reveals a more complex picture. While rates of homelessness are increasing in some places, so are the available services like emergency shelters or street outreach, and the counts are getting more accurate.