Annual point-in-time count looks at what keeps people from finding permanent housing in Anchorage

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Natisha Frazier stood outside her trailer located inside the homeless camp at Cuddy Park in Midtown Anchorage.

A little white cat twirled around her legs. A floofy gray cat curiously stood beside the trailer, while a black cat stared intently at volunteers with Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness as they walked through the camp.

“I have cats and I’m not getting rid of my cats,” Frazier said when asked what has kept her out of permanent housing.

This week, the point-in-time count started.

The count began Monday night and ends Feb. 1.

“This is a HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) mandated count that happens every year. Everyone in the United States is going to be performing a count of people experiencing homelessness in their community,” Jessica Parks with the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness said.

HUD reported roughly 653,100 people – or about 20 of every 10,000 people in the United States – were experiencing homelessness last year. Last year’s tally marked the highest-ever count of people experiencing homelessness in the United States. The previous record – 647,258 people – people came in 2007, the inaugural year of the point-in-time count.

Besides claiming a new high in total homeless, last year’s annual headcount was also a 12% increase from 2022.

Data shows the overall number of people in Anchorage experiencing homelessness has also risen in the past several years, by quite a lot.

In 2020, that number was 1,058. In 2021, it was up to 1,319 and in 2022 it was 1,494.

The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness says that last year 1,760 people were homeless and within that group, 335 were unsheltered, which means someone was living inside makeshift shelters such as pallets or tarp structures or camping in RVs and cars.

In 2022, the coalition says 1,494 people were counted with 125 unsheltered.

Parks says at first glance it appears the numbers will be close to the same.

Outreach crews counted people in Downtown Anchorage first, then headed to Cuddy Park, home to the largest homeless camp in the city.

The outreach workers were armed with comfort bags stuffed with hand warmers, Top Ramen, Goldfish crackers and hats.

Specific to Anchorage this year, while counters collected information, people experiencing homelessness were asked why they think they are homeless.

“Do you want to share the reasons or the factors that you feel contributed to your homelessness?” Parks asked a thin man.

“No,” he said while sipping a hot coffee.

Another woman replied that drugs have contributed to her situation.

Frazier said her cats, not having pet deposits as well and having an eviction notice on her record has hurt her ability to find an apartment.

At the end of 2023, Anchorage ended the year with 51 people — 33 men and 18 women — dying outside, according to records from the Anchorage Police Department.

Those conducting the point-in-time count this week conceded it is not a perfect system and some will either refuse to participate or be missed by the counters.

The numbers are due to HUD by March and are then expected to be released to the Anchorage Assembly and the public sometime in April.

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