Outreach Cooridinator 
In 2024, Anchorage, Alaska, recorded 50 deaths of people experiencing homelessness on its streets, according to data from the Anchorage Police Department reported by Alaska Public Media on January 15, 2025. This number is slightly lower than the peak of 51 deaths in 2023 but remains significantly higher than earlier years, such as the 24 deaths recorded in 2022. These figures reflect “outdoor deaths,” defined as individuals found dead outside without a fixed address, though they do not encompass all homelessness-related deaths, such as those occurring indoors or in hospitals.
The data indicates that many of these deaths involved evidence of drug or alcohol use, with nearly half of the cases showing drug paraphernalia at the scene and nine cases with alcohol bottles present. At least five instances involved the use of Narcan, highlighting the role of overdoses. However, the exact causes of death are determined by the medical examiner, not the police observations alone. Contributing factors include limited shelter access, a rise in drug overdoses across Alaska (up over 40% in 2023 and 2024 compared to prior years), and challenges in accessing healthcare and substance abuse treatment for the homeless population.
Efforts to address this crisis are ongoing, with Mayor Suzanne LaFrance prioritizing the reduction of unsheltered homelessness. The Anchorage Assembly is exploring solutions like year-round shelters and independent living options for 2025, though experts note these are short-term fixes rather than solutions to root causes like housing shortages and addiction. The troubling trend of high outdoor deaths over the past two years has spurred calls for systemic change in how Anchorage supports its most vulnerable residents.
I personal know many of these people that have died already in 2025
Links
https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/12/29/record-number-people-51-die-outside-this-year-anchorage-streets/ https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/05/17/outdoor-death-toll-anchorage-2024-climbs-12/ https://www.governing.com/housing/a-record-8-homeless-die-outdoors-in-anchorage https://alaskapublic.org/news/health/2025-01-15/50-people-experiencing-homelessness-died-on-anchorage-streets-in-2024
https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2024/12/11/outdoor-deaths-anchorage-climb-another-year/
