Anchorage adds to record homeless death total as major winter storm drops more than 2 feet of snow

In Anchorage, a recent major winter storm has exacerbated the ongoing challenge of providing shelter for the city’s significant homeless population. Over the past week, four homeless individuals tragically lost their lives, shedding light on the city’s struggle to address this issue while facing severe winter weather conditions, including over 2 feet (0.61 meters) of snowfall within just 48 hours.

These four fatalities have contributed to a distressing record of 49 people perishing while living on the streets of Anchorage this year. This number significantly surpasses the 24 deaths reported in the state’s largest city in the previous year, as documented by the Anchorage Daily News. Disturbingly, 11 of these deaths occurred during the winter months.

The heavy snowfall from this week’s storm blanketed the makeshift camps and vehicles where homeless individuals sought refuge after the closure of the mass shelter located inside the city’s sports arena during the pandemic. Although the city managed to clear at least one of these large camps, some individuals have chosen to endure the harsh winter conditions rather than seeking shelter.

Among the recent fatalities, a woman tragically lost her life when her makeshift shelter caught fire, likely due to a heating source used for warmth. The other three victims were men, with one found deceased in the doorway of a downtown gift store, another alongside a busy road near a Walmart, and the third in a tent at an encampment near the city’s main library.

The situation has prompted concern and reflection among city officials. Felix Rivera, an Anchorage Assembly member who chairs the Housing and Homeless Committee, expressed the need for a long-term solution, emphasizing that while temporary shelter beds have been added, the ultimate goal must be to construct more housing to prevent further tragedies. Rivera cautioned against relying solely on short-term fixes, warning that limited funds may eventually hamper such efforts.

Anchorage has grappled with finding a sustainable solution for housing the homeless since the closure of the arena shelter. Disagreements between the city’s conservative mayor and liberal assembly members have stalled progress on a new mass shelter. An earlier proposal suggesting offering one-way plane tickets to the homeless to leave the city met with widespread criticism and remained unfunded.

As an interim measure, the city has repurposed old hotels and apartment buildings and recently opened a new 150-bed mass shelter at the former waste transfer station administration building. While some beds were available, demand is expected to exceed supply. Plans to add 50 more beds and potentially establish warming centers and additional shelters are in the works.

The heavy snowfall during the recent storm disrupted city buses, eliminating a readily available source of warmth for the homeless and hindering access to shelters and social service programs for low-income residents.

While current temperatures have hovered around the 30-degree Fahrenheit (-1-degree Celsius) mark, colder weather is forecasted, with single-digit temperatures expected in the near future. The storm itself brought substantial snowfall, breaking daily records in various parts of Anchorage.

Despite these challenges, the community is grappling with power outages, school closures or remote learning, and highway closures. The situation highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to address homelessness in Anchorage, especially during the unforgiving winter months.

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• Anchorage Daily News
• City of Anchorage
• National Weather Service
• The Big Big News