A nationwide tally of how many people are experiencing homelessness on a single night. This year, it’s Jan. 29.

To capture a snapshot of homelessness in the community. These counts, mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, guide federal funding and efforts to end homelessness. Let’s make sure everyone is counted!

People sleeping outdoors whether in a tent, in a snow shelter, under tarps, on the ground or in a self-made pallet home; people camping in a car or an RV without hookups; and those staying in shelters or transitional, temporary housing. (Not part of the count: People who are doubling up or couch surfing and those in hospitals, jails or other institutions.)

The effort is guided by the Anchorage Continuum of Care — a network of service providers — and led by the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness. Trained outreach teams head out early on Jan. 30 to known sleeping and camping spots and continue to search for camps Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, asking where people slept on Jan. 29. Teams conduct short interviews and submit answers into an online portal. Those who decline the interview still can be counted based on the team’s observation.

Camps near Davis Park, Cuddy Family Midtown Park, downtown and scattered sites within the area served by the Anchorage Continuum of Care, from Eklutna to the Whittier Tunnel.

People experiencing homelessness who are unsheltered should stay near their sleeping spot on Jan. 30 until they are counted. Anyone who knows of a camp can make sure it is known by sharing locations of camps to the Municipality's camp reporting map. You can even attach a photo. Click here to report a camp

Throughout the year, outreach teams visit camps to offer resources including an assessment of housing needs and supplies including first aid kits, snacks, hats and gloves to unsheltered individuals. In addition, teams doing the Point-in-Time Count rely on the Municipality's camp map.

1,760 people including 335 who were unsheltered. Those numbers mark an increase from prior years, something the Coalition attributes to an improved counting system spread over several days rather than a reliance on large numbers of volunteers to count in the middle of the night, when camps can be hard to find. In addition, 2023 was the first year that allowed individuals to be counted with confidence solely through observation. The one-night count supplements data maintained all year through the Alaska Homeless Management Information System.

By this summer. Once the data is reported to HUD, we can share with the community.