Homelessness in AlaskaIn Alaska, the homeless population has to adapt to the harsh weather conditions daily. Most Alaskans don’t understand what it’s like to live in these conditions 24/7 because they are sheltered with a warm home. Approximately 2,000 to 4,000 people are homeless in Alaska, many residing in Anchorage. There are efforts to support the homeless population, but why isn’t the state providing them resources and materials to educate them in support of getting a temporary shelter and job to get out of their current situation?
People become homeless because of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and unemployment. Alaska Natives make up over 9% of Anchorage’s population, and nearly 50% of Anchorage’s homeless population. A survey conducted in 2013 by Alaska Public Media found that many Alaska Native people leave their village due to alcohol abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault, then get stranded in Anchorage with trauma from the history in their village.
In the winter, homeless deaths rise, usually as a result of the cold or alcohol. There are efforts in Alaska, such as the Anchorage Gospel Rescue Mission and Covenant House Alaska, that help shelter homeless people temporarily. I believe there should be a homeless shelter in Anchorage that helps them develop social, valuable, and work-related skills to escape homelessness and become valuable members of society. If there were shelters to help them develop those skills, Anchorage would have fewer homeless people, fewer deaths and more contributing citizens to society.
Homelessness is not only a problem in Alaska, but in all other states as well. If Alaska doesn’t show any effort to prevent this from happening, then the problem will only become worse. Why not attempt to change that? It would be worth it, especially for the city as a whole, since there would be more people working.
In conclusion, homelessness is an epidemic; the state should be taking it more seriously. Homeless people are often victims of trauma and use alcohol or drugs to cope with their daily lives. If the state created shelters that teach them virtues, job skills and the process of rehab, Alaska would become a better state. Approximately 2,000 to 4,000 people are homeless in Alaska; if the state continues to just provide only shelters, nothing will change.
— Joey Zemba
Anchorage
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