Counting the Homeless in Alaska

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Counting the Homeless in Alaska

• Kris Duncan MSW
• Alaska Housing Finance Corp.
• kduncan_at_ahfc.state.ak.us
• 907-330-8276

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Alaska is a huge state! If you were to imagine
it positioned over the Lower 48, Alaska would
stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
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How AK defines RURAL

• A community of 6,500 or less that is not
  connected by road or rail to Anchorage or
  Fairbanks. Or, a community of 1,600 or less that
  is connected by road or rail to Anchorage or
  Fairbanks and at least 50 statute miles outside
  of Anchorage or 25 statute miles outside of
  Fairbanks. In this definition, connected by
  road does not include a connection by the Alaska
  Marine Highway System or roads outside the
  boundary of the State of Alaska.

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Alaska many settlements few roads
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Distance Cost from Anchorage

• Fairbanks 358 miles/247 r.t.
• Juneau 571 miles/310 r.t.
• Barrow 725/553 r.t.
• Nome 540 miles/417 r.t.
• Kodiak 252 miles/223 r.t.
• Aleutians (Unalaska) 800 miles/898 r.t.
• Bethel 399 miles/352 r.t.

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Counting Challenges

• Very few emergency shelters for the general
  population (mostly DV)
• Outreach efforts are inconsistent
• Enumerator training is difficult logistically

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AK is in for the long haul!

• Point In Time (PIT) Count since 1995
• Conducted every January and July
• Supported by providers
• Input on development modifications
• Reports used for other agency purposes
• Kept as simple as possible to stimulate a higher
  response rate

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PIT Partners

• Homeless school liaisons
• Teacher Housing Initiative (stick!)
• Food pantries
• Public health clinics
• Public assistance offices
• Faith Based Community Initiative (FCBI)
• Native housing/Tribal service agencies

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Technical Assistance

• Printed instructions
• Workshops
• Coalition presentations
• Toll-free help desk

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Domestic Violence Partners

• Met with statewide DV provider network
• Examined HUD CoC Chart
• Brainstormed duplicate possibilities
• Developed aggregate survey instrument

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Fairbanks Homeless Count - January 2007
Part 1 Homeless Population Sheltered Sheltered Sheltered Unsheltered Total
Emergency Transitional Transitional
1. Number of Households with Dependent Children 16 4 4 0 20
1a. Number of Persons in these Households (adults children) 43 13 13 0 56
2. Number of Households without dependent children 72 7 7 17 96
2a. Total Number of Persons in these Households 72 7 7 17 96
Total Persons (lines 1a 2a) 115 20 20 17 152
Part 2 Homeless Subpopulations Sheltered Sheltered Sheltered Unsheltered Total
a. Chronically Homeless 27 27 6 2 35
b. Severely Mentally Ill 4 4 4
c. Chronic Substance Abuse 32 32 5 2 39
d. Veterans 14 14 0 1 15
e. Persons with HIV/AIDS 0 0 0 0 0
f. Victims of Domestic Violence 51 51 16 0 67
g. Unaccompanied Youth -under 18 yrs 0 0 0 5 5
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Fairbanks Homeless Count - January 2007
Part 3 Homeless Population Not Recognized by HUD Not Recognized by HUD Total
With Family/Friends Motel (Temporary)
1. Number of Households with Dependent Children 2 1 3
1a. Number of Persons in these Households (adults children) 7 2 9
2. Number of Households without dependent children 50 1 51
2a. Total Number of Persons in these Households 50 1 51
Total Persons (lines 1a 2a) 57 3 60
Part 3a Homeless Subpopulations With Family/Friends Motel (Temporary) Total
a. Chronically Homeless 1 1
b. Severely Mentally Ill 1 1
c. Chronic Substance Abuse 3 3
d. Veterans 5 5
e. Persons with HIV/AIDS
f. Victims of Domestic Violence 2 1 3
g. Unaccompanied Youth -under 18 yrs 26 26
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Looking Ahead

• HMIS? Not likely
• State data warehouse? Possibly
• Dept. of Corrections coordinating
• Fewer homeless means an easier count!!!