Homelessness and affordable housing continue to plague far too many in our community. Over the last five years homelessness in Alaska has increased by 10.3%. Alaska now has the seventh-highest rate of homelessness in the country. Those affected by homelessness deserve better.
We need a multi-pronged approach. One prong that we can influence as a community right now is related to short-term rentals. While this is not the only important issue associated with affordable housing and homelessness, addressing the impact of short-term rentals is something we can and must address.
Research confirms that access to affordable long-term housing is the best solution to reducing homelessness. Logic follows that when long-term rentals or owner-occupied housing units are turned into short-term rentals, the pool of long-term housing options is reduced. Studies and reports confirm that: (1) the number of short-term rentals in Juneau has steadily increased over the last decade; (2) communities with increases in short-term rental units have more expensive long-term rental rates; and (3) communities with more expensive long-term rental rates have higher rates of homelessness.
I propose three potential solutions we as a community support to move the needle on this. The first is to build more affordable housing. We need developers to focus on affordability as an essential factor in development.
While I am not here speaking on behalf of the nonprofit I lead, Gastineau Human Services Corporation (GHS), my work there has given me valuable insight that I feel the need to share with the community. The biggest challenge faced by those progressing through its programs is finding affordable permanent housing. With the generous support of the City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ), Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, the Juneau Housing First Collaborative, and the Juneau Community Foundation, GHS is leveraging what it can to help by raising funds to build a 51-unit long-term low-income rental apartment building. This is something the nonprofit can and should do. Other organizations in the community are also stepping up in similar ways to help. Let’s all keep stepping up.
Second, for those of us in the community who can afford to own short-term rental property, it is time to shift short-term rentals back to long-term rentals. Similarly, let’s discontinue the practice of buying owner-occupied homes or property that was meant for long-term rentals so they can be turned into short-term rentals. I understand why people want to own short-term rentals; it is a good financial decision for them. Sadly the collateral impact of pulling units from the long-term market leaves the most vulnerable with no good financial decision.
Unfortunately we cannot provide increased income for short-term rental owners and provide more affordable housing to the community at the same time. So, it’s time for us as a community to make a choice about which one we will support. For those who can afford to, please consider turning your short-term rental back into a long-term rental or sell it for owner-occupied housing. This is something many short-term rental owners can courageously do. Please help. Please lead out on this and tell your friends so they can follow suit.
The third thing is for policy decisions to be made that better regulate short-term rentals. The city should follow in the footsteps of the many other municipalities around Alaska and the country that have set reasonable regulations around the operation of short-term rentals. Government and associated laws/regulations exist to support and intervene where the for-profit sector won’t, particularly for the most vulnerable. This is such a situation. While we can’t only use policy to solve this problem, it is a necessary ingredient in the solution. As community members, we can provide public comments in support of this to CBJ as they consider the recommendations of the Short-Term Rental Task Force.
Let’s all lift where we can and help bring more affordable housing back to the most vulnerable and end homelessness in Juneau.
• Jonathan Swinton is the executive director of Gastineau Human Services Corporation, which serves those who experience homelessness, are in recovery from substance use challenges, or are trying to re-enter their lives following incarceration.
