Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) campaign staff participated in the 2024 Alaska Housing Summit, hosted by the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (AKCH2), on August 29. The summit focused on the state of affordable housing in Alaska and highlighted cross-sector partnerships to address the housing crisis. During the event, OSAH Campaign Director Chantelle Wilkinson shared insights about the growing national movement for housing justice and discussed the progress made in advancing housing solutions.
Wilkinson echoed a message embodied throughout the summit: the critical role of cross-sector partnerships in the work to advance housing justice. “All across the nation, people are struggling to remain housed and this impacts their overall wellbeing,” said Chantelle. “When renters are experiencing housing insecurity, they are negotiating between life’s essentials. Groceries become a negotiation, healthcare becomes a negotiation, education becomes a negotiation.” Organizations from various sectors are recognizing that affordable homes are inextricably linked to their own priorities, while many housing advocates are recognizing that this work can no longer be siloed. Summit speakers, including community organizers, government officials, residents, and staff, shared the various ways municipalities, healthcare providers, housing authorities, and the federal and state governments all play a role in the development of housing in Alaska.
Brian Wilson, executive director of AKCH2, discussed the OSAH campaign in his opening remarks and its alignment with his organization’s understanding of the importance of national and state cross-sector partnerships in affordable housing advocacy and in direct service provision. Wilson highlighted the benefits of joining NLIHC and OSAH state partner calls to connect with housing advocates throughout the country, learn about their work, and implement new approaches. Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness is a state partner of the Opportunity Starts at Home campaign.
Watch a recording from the summit here.