OPINION: Anchorage homelessness demands a comprehensive solution

Homelessness is the No. 1 issue my constituents raise in the North Anchorage district I represent in the Alaska State House.

Homelessness hurts all of us. Living unsheltered is dangerous, and housing insecurity is a big problem for the whole community. At the end of August, the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness counted 2,457 unhoused individuals. Abatement efforts by the Municipality of Anchorage have repeatedly led unhoused individuals to move to other locations that impact surrounding neighborhoods — places like Centennial Park in North Muldoon and Davis Park in Mountain View.

There are some recent positive signs, however. Projections show a welcome decline in the number of unhoused people needing shelter this upcoming winter. To better connect the unhoused with resources, the Anchorage Police Department has created a Homeless Outreach Prevention and Engagement (HOPE) team pairing police officers trained in crisis intervention with social network navigators. More housing options have opened, including Providence’s Elder House offering 45 studio apartments as permanent supportive housing for unsheltered people 55 and over.

Economic and social factors have contributed to the rise in homelessness. Addressing these root causes requires a multi-factor solution that is comprehensive, compassionate and firm.

We need to increase shelter and housing options so people don’t feel a need to resort to living on streets, parks and trails. I am proud of my role in helping to secure $4 million in state funding to keep open the shelter on East 56th Avenue. When I recently toured Covenant House’s facility and discussed their efforts in fighting youth homelessness, the staff told me that they make referrals to that shelter every single day.

We must increase access to treatment for substance abuse and mental illness — issues that impact both unhoused and housed Alaskans. Making such treatment more accessible is particularly important given the lingering disruptions caused by the pandemic and the increased availability of cheap and dangerous street drugs.

Additionally, Anchorage needs more — and more well-trained — police officers to enforce existing laws, including those against trespassing. The Anchorage Police Department is down at least 50 officers, and I am heartened by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance’s commitment to improve public safety and fill those positions.

Finally, reducing homelessness means making assurances both to those experiencing homelessness and to Anchorage residents negatively impacted by encampments. For the unsheltered, we need to say: “We will not force you to leave where you are while saying that there is no legal place for you to go.” For those living near encampments, we must say: “We hear you — you have lost your sense of security and your feeling of safety. You have spent money on clean-up and security measures. Relief is coming.”

A few more common-sense observations should guide us.

Focus on the biggest camps first, as they have been more significant breeding grounds for criminal behavior. And do not leave homelessness unaddressed in neighborhoods with less politically powerful residents.

I was glad that I was able to take Mayor LaFrance on a tour of North Muldoon in early September to help her gain insights into the severity of homelessness in Centennial Park. That tour with the Mayor should be a step towards more cooperation between the Municipality and the State of Alaska in addressing homelessness.

The direct responsibility for dealing with homelessness in Anchorage will always be with the Municipality, but the state needs to play a bigger role in helping with solutions. Anchorage legislators need to be leaders in that effort.

I will keep working to reduce homelessness through the multi-factor strategy outlined above. It’s the only way to address this giant problem in Anchorage. I ask others to join me.

Rep. Cliff Groh is the first-term state representative for House District 18 in North Anchorage. The district includes Government Hill and Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER), as well as portions of North Muldoon, North Downtown, North Fairview, and North Mountain View.

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