RC Blog

Situation gets darker in Land of Midnight Sun

posted by Rosette Royale on Monday, May 10 at 2:50pm

Sometimes, reputations can come on as subtle as whisper. First people talk about someone — or some place — and, before anyone realizes it, that’s what you’re known for. Anchorage, Alaska may be going through such a moment.

Of course, most people associate Alaska with cold and being the largest city in The Last Frontier. Some even know that it ain’t that far from Wasila, Sarah Palin’s old stomping grounds. But these days, Anchorage is becoming known as the last place you’d want to be if you’re homeless a person who’s struggling with alcoholism. Last October, the NY Times printed “Homeless Deaths Rise, and Anchorage Copes,” which discussed the deaths of 13 homeless people from the spring of 2009 until last fall.

Now comes this: The number of deaths of homeless people there has risen to 21 in the past 12 months, according to the Associated Press’ “Anchorage outdoor deaths mount among homeless.” It’s one of those articles that makes you shake your head: It gives out sad information, which no one can really account for, though people try.

Part of the issue is the changing weather. Then there are alcoholism rates among Native populations. And then there’s a little bit of the NIMBY attitude.

But of local interest is significant (virtual) ink spent on praising the success of Seattle’s own 1811 Eastlake building, which offers housing to 75 homeless men and women caught in a downward spiral of alcoholism, a spiral that’s kept them either on the streets or in the ER.

Of course, Anchorage doesn’t have to be known as the City where Homeless People — especially Natives who are alcoholic — Keep Dying. Maybe a rep from the 1811 should pay a visit to Anchorage. And maybe some writer will go up there and spend some time and tell us a (sad) story from the land of the Midnight Sun. Maybe a story that shines a light on the dark times in the city will help change a rep-in-the-making that could start weighing Anchorage down.

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Comments

There is only minimal funding for homeless shelters, and volunteers do try their best. The community of Anchorage has tried to develop new programs for chronically homeless and alcoholic individuals, they are even trying to revive a 45 bed homeless shelter, but they need approval from community councils before that can become a reality. The covenant house, brother Francis shelter, the rescue mission and even the Clitheroe center and trying to work together to minimize the occurrence of alcoholism in the chronic homeless which would also minimize the alcohol related deaths. We aren’t lacking in compassion as a city, but a lack of funding is the largest hurdle to overcome. as well as our volatile weather, and extreme influx of populations which have a natural predisposition to substance abuse, we are struggling. And maybe members of the 1811 Eastlake Building should contact some of these agency’s, or maybe a program like Sundown M. Ranch in Yakima, WA could send us some good advice to lower the recidivism rates. But instead of pointing fingers, be a part of the change.

Grace Harrington | submitted on 05/10/2010, 4:27pm

I am just curious, if so many of the homeless folks there are natives..are the Alaskan Native tribes founding any of the efforts?

Beatrice Friberg | submitted on 05/13/2010, 2:41pm

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