Opinion: Change is necessary. Anchorage, it’s time to act.

Last year I wrote a New Year’s piece full of optimism, and the inspiring message of a humble parking ticket payment machine at Anchorage’s downtown Linny Pacillo parking garage: “Change is possible.” I encouraged the community to embrace change, try new things and welcome new policies and projects — especially new housing.

Looking back on 2024, change did happen! In many ways, this year felt hectic, sometimes relentless, as we live through an era of rapid disruption, unrest and tension. It feels like gravity is shifting — what was once considered “normal” has revealed itself to be how things happened to be for a long time, not forever. There’s too much to grapple with on one short, cold winter day. So, let’s stay local and talk housing:

In 2024, new housing units welcomed their first residents: Debenham’s Block 96 downtown), Cook Inlet Housing Authority’s Ch’bala Corners in Spenard, Q’et’en Qenq’a supportive housing for elders in Midtown) and Central Lutheran Church’s In Our Backyard tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness in Fairview. The Assembly changed the zoning code to legalize more housing in more neighborhoods, reduce restrictions on new construction, and encourage mixed-housing developments. These policies sparked robust debate across the community, but in the end, the conversation finally leapfrogged beyond if we’re in a housing crisis, to how we fix it. We elected a new mayor who made housing a priority, with a team already working to untangle barriers at the municipality. We have a lot more work ahead, but this year we moved faster and farther than we have for a long time.

While poverty and struggle are not new, 2024 also saw an 18% increase in homelessness across the U.S. That includes Alaska, not just Anchorage: In fact, Anchorage’s homeless population stayed flat or slightly declined since 2023, the outcome of efforts to create more affordable housing, such as converting old hotels to modest apartments. While homelessness has multiple causes, the primary driver remains the high cost of rent and insufficient housing supply. That same report shows several cities that go all in on housing now have fewer people sleeping outside. Anchorage’s efforts to increase housing continue to pay off, but reversing this trend is a steep uphill climb.

As I wrote a year ago, change can be good and bad — but it happens nonetheless. In 2024, my message was an affirmation: Things can be better if we try. For 2025, that still true — but this moment needs urgency, sharper focus and a clear call to action.

Change is inevitable and happens all around us. Even when we feel the stagnation of sameness, in reality, conditions are shifting, sometimes rapidly, often invisibly. We cannot hold onto what was without confronting what is. Our housing stock (both quantity and quality) has barely changed in the last decade. Our neighborhoods are mostly the same, while housing is increasingly out of reach for many. This situation will continue to get worse until more housing is built.

Change is necessary. The trajectory we are on, regardless of good intentions behind choices that brought us here, will not resolve or reverse itself on its own. We don’t have an infinite menu of options — but there are concrete policy changes likely to achieve better outcomes than where we are today. (This is why we focus so much on zoning: It’s a set of rules we control, they aren’t working for us and they need to be fixed.)

It’s time to act! We need everyone’s help. This means your time, attention and care. Those with extra time, consider volunteering, serving on a board or just pulling weeds at a local park this summer. Even if you’re busy and burned out on politics, pay attention to local news and what’s happening in the community — everyone has a role in shaping our city’s future. Whether you engage in housing or other topics you care about, get involved and stay informed.

Change itself is inevitable, but good outcomes aren’t. We must work for a better community — we can’t afford not to. Let’s welcome 2025, ready to act.

Anna Brawley is a member of the Anchorage Assembly, representing District 3 in West Anchorage.

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