Alaska is facing a crisis — one that shouldn’t be up for political debate. Housing is not a privilege; it is a basic human necessity. Yet, too often, the fate of our most vulnerable neighbors is treated as a bargaining chip in political fights, rather than the life-or-death issue that it truly is.
As the recent federal funding freeze put into stark relief, policies and budget decisions that impact housing impact people’s well-being. The simple reality is this: The smallest, unexpected disruption to people who are already housing insecure quickly leads to people losing housing, with nowhere to go. They are forced into dangerous situations, left to navigate Alaska conditions without sufficient shelter, stability or hope. For people living in smaller communities off the road system, the closest option that fits their needs might be hundreds of miles away.
In communities from Skagway to Juneau, Sitka to Ketchikan, consequences of housing insecurity ripple through every aspect of life. Without stable housing, people cannot effectively seek employment, care for their children, or address mental and physical health challenges. The cost of inaction is not just measured in the suffering of those without homes — it also weighs on emergency services, hospitals, law enforcement, and the overall well-being of our state.
We need to reframe the conversation. We must address homelessness and ensure access to affordable housing. There is no other option. Investing in housing is investing in public safety, economic stability and community resilience. It is not just the compassionate choice — it is the practical one. Trying to sustain emergency shelter for thousands of Alaskans throughout the state without pathways to affordable housing isn’t working, and it’s costing millions of dollars that do little more than repeat cycles of trauma and instability. We must be able to balance keeping people safe and moving them to housing. Both are necessary.
Alaskans have always prided ourselves on our ability to come together in times of crisis, to take care of one another, and to build strong, thriving communities. We must reject the notion that housing is a political battlefield and instead commit to real solutions. That means prioritizing long-term investments in affordable housing, supportive services and emergency shelter options that ensure no one is left outside.
Let’s move beyond the rhetoric and act with the urgency this crisis demands. Housing isn’t political. It’s personal. It’s survival. It’s dignity. And it’s time we treat it that way.
• Meg Zaletel of Anchorage is executive director of the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness. Brian Wilson of Juneau is executive director of the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness.
