This is intended to be a neutral platform for candidates to discuss their perspectives and policy goals on the suite of issues pertaining to housing and homelessness in Anchorage. This opportunity provides a forum to share information with the community on the systemic challenges to residential development, housing affordability, and addressing homelessness.  

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The need for this platform has been emphatically endorsed by both private builders as well as non-profit affordable housing and service providers: namely the cost/difficulty erecting four walls within the Municipality is a major (but poorly understood/appreciated) barrier to improving the quality and affordability of our housing stock; this is true throughout the entirety of the price spectrum and has a direct impact on the building industry, cost and availability of local labor, and access to affordable housing. Simultaneously, there is a public outcry to address impacts of homelessness in our community that struggles to meaningfully engage with homelessness’ root causes. While many socioeconomic challenges make homelessness more complex- experts internationally conclude that solutions to homelessness start and end with a home. This is particularly relevant as Anchorage prepares for the economic impacts of COVID-19 and its potential to significantly increase new homelessness.