This recent surge in deaths highlights the ongoing struggle of Anchorage to provide housing for its large homeless population, especially during harsh winter conditions. According to the Anchorage Daily News, these deaths bring the total number of people who have died while living outdoors in Anchorage this year to a record-breaking 49, surpassing last year's count of 24.

The heavy snowfall from this week's storm covered makeshift camps and vehicles that homeless people had set up all over the city after the closure of the mass shelter in the sports arena due to the pandemic. While the city had cleared at least one of these large camps, some individuals have chosen to brave the winter weather rather than seek shelter. However, this decision has had devastating consequences.

One of the recent deaths occurred when a sleeping woman's makeshift shelter caught fire, potentially due to a heating source used for warmth. The other three deaths were all men, with one found dead in a downtown gift store doorway where he often slept, another discovered alongside a busy road near a Walmart, and the third found in a tent at an encampment near the city's main library. Despite the availability of shelter beds at the time of each person's death, other factors such as lack of transportation or access to healthcare, confusion regarding shelter options, or refusal to go to a shelter may have played a role.

The Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness emphasized the need for effective interventions such as access to healthcare providers, Narcan for overdose prevention, fentanyl test strips, harm reduction counseling, and behavioral health treatment to reduce outdoor deaths. Felix Rivera, an Anchorage Assembly member who chairs the Housing and Homeless Committee, expressed his concern over the deaths, stating, "It makes you wonder what could we have done better to prevent that from happening."

In response to the crisis, the city has implemented short-term solutions by adding temporary shelter beds. However, Assembly member Rivera emphasized that the only way to prevent further deaths is by investing in more permanent housing options. He expressed concern that relying on temporary measures would be unsustainable in the long run, as funds would eventually run out.

Anchorage has faced significant challenges in finding a solution to house its homeless population since the closure of the arena's mass shelter. The city's mayor and Assembly have been at odds, unable to agree on a new mass shelter. Mayor Dave Bronson's suggestion of providing one-way airplane tickets to the homeless in order to leave the city was widely criticized and never funded. As a result, the city has been scrambling to find alternative shelter options, including repurposing old hotels and apartment buildings.

At the end of last month, a new 150-bed mass shelter was opened at the city's old waste transfer station administration building. The city's homeless director, Alexis Johnson, expressed hope that this patchwork solution would provide enough beds for Anchorage's vulnerable population. However, Assembly member Rivera noted that there were already only 28 beds available at one facility, which would likely be filled before the weekend. Plans are underway to add an additional 50 beds to this facility, and the possibility of warming centers and another shelter is being considered.

The recent heavy snowfall has exacerbated the challenges faced by the homeless population. City buses were unable to run, depriving individuals of an easy warming place and preventing many low-income individuals from accessing shelters and social service programs. While temperatures during the storm hovered around 30 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 degree Celsius), the forecast predicts single-digit temperatures in the upcoming weekend.

The storm brought significant snowfall to Anchorage, with 17.2 inches recorded at the city's official recording station near the airport and coastline. Other parts of Anchorage, particularly those near the Chugach Mountains, experienced even higher snowfall, with up to 30 inches recorded. This snowfall broke two daily records, with Wednesday's accumulation surpassing the previous record set in 1982, and Thursday's snowfall surpassing the record set in 1956.

The storm caused widespread power outages, school closures or remote learning, and even some highway closures, further exacerbating the difficulties faced by Anchorage's homeless population.

As the city grapples with the immediate challenges presented by the winter storm and the increasing number of deaths among the homeless population, it is clear that a long-term and sustainable solution is needed. Building more housing options and ensuring access to necessary support services are crucial steps in addressing this ongoing crisis.