Homeless people in Alaska? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: homes, banks, streets)

[Hbud]

Are there really homeless people in Alaska? does the Goverment really let people freeze on the streets of the cities during the winter? I would imagine that most homeless people positions are down her in the 48 .

[DannyL]

Yes, homeless folks in Alaska is a major issue. And no, we don't let them freeze. i could go on for hours about the demographics, etc, but yes, homeless people are up here.
But mostly of their own choosing.

[mal_flisk]

I've seen them on the streets of Fairbanks in the dead of winter. They are the flotsam of a society that can crush a person. There are shelters, but many seem to be afraid of what is required of them to reside there. Remember, people have survived in times past without the modern amenities, and these folks can, too. When they forget where they are (with alcohol and drugs) nature kills them and they become a statistic.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Hbud

Are there really homeless people in Alaska? does the Goverment really let people freeze on the streets of the cities during the winter? I would imagine that most homeless people positions are down her in the 48 .

I suppose that all depends on how you define "homeless." Do out-of-state hikers and backpackers camping out in the summer count as "homeless?" They have no homes in Alaska. What about those Alaskans who live in the bush that have no home, do they also count as "homeless?" Or do only those who stay year-round living on the streets of some city count as "homeless?"

I suppose in the lower-48 meaning of the word "homeless", the latter would apply. In that case, yes, there are a few "homeless" in Alaska. Not as many as you might think. Some by choice, others by circumstance. Cities like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau have privately run homeless shelters where they can take refuge and are open year-round.

There are people in Alaska, who have homes, that die from exposure every year so I wouldn't single out the "homeless" in that regard, nor would I consider it a "problem" that needs to be solved. It is just a fact of life.

[alpha2222]

Originally Posted by Glitch

I suppose that all depends on how you define "homeless." Do out-of-state hikers and backpackers camping out in the summer count as "homeless?" They have no homes in Alaska. What about those Alaskans who live in the bush that have no home, do they also count as "homeless?" Or do only those who stay year-round living on the streets of some city count as "homeless?"

I suppose in the lower-48 meaning of the word "homeless", the latter would apply. In that case, yes, there are a few "homeless" in Alaska. Not as many as you might think. Some by choice, others by circumstance. Cities like Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau have privately run homeless shelters where they can take refuge and are open year-round.

There are people in Alaska, who have homes, that die from exposure every year so I wouldn't single out the "homeless" in that regard, nor would I consider it a "problem" that needs to be solved. It is just a fact of life.

so very right on