Public safety is the number one responsibility of local government. As part of Mayor LaFrance’s effort to improve safety and access to public spaces for all residents, we continue to make strong progress abating encampments on public land. The administration has cleared 27 camps since coming into office and will continue to abate encampments that create safety concerns for residents. Below is a quick overview of the facts behind abatement in the Municipality of Anchorage. See a map of all abatements completed by the LaFrance administration here.
  
By the numbers: 
 

 

Abatement, step-by-step:  

 

 

 

Abatement is the Municipality’s process for removing encampments on public land. Municipal code and policies and procedures identify specific criteria to determine if an abatement is necessary. Factors we consider include risk to human life and safety, reports of concern from the public, proximity to schools, criminal activity, and the accumulation of waste, garbage, and illegal structures. The Municipality then coordinates staff and posts legally required notifications of camp removal, giving up to ten days of preparation and notice. The Municipality supports consistent outreach to offer people resources and shelter before physically cleaning up a space.  

 

What happens to people after abatement? 

Advance outreach is a critical component of a successful abatement. One-on-one contacts with individuals beforehand help people connect to shelter, housing, treatment, and other services. Municipal staff and partners focus on multiple contacts to establish trust and help people find a safer place to be, reunite with family or friends, or connect to a broad range of supports, from food security to behavioral health treatment. Generally, teams provide outreach long before notices are posted at a camp and continue until the camp is removed. Our goal is always to connect as many people as possible to shelter, treatment, and housing before the date of abatement. 

 

Why is abatement necessary?  

Abatement is not a solution to homelessness but is a critical tool to protect public safety. Encampments are often dangerous for the people living in them and living nearby. Public land should be safe and accessible to everyone in our community. 

 

How does the Municipality decide to abate an area?  

The abatement process is governed by Municipal code: Chapter 15.20 – Public Nuisances. A recommendation of abatement requires a written memo describing an encampment’s location, qualities, and primary concerns. The memo must be approved in writing by the Chief of Police, the Director of Parks and Recreation, the Director of the Anchorage Health Department, and the Municipal Manager. If they all approve, abatement notices can be posted. We only abate one area at a time, prioritizing based on safety concerns and our ability to be effective.

Who is involved in abatement? 

Abatement a multi-step process that requires a high level of coordination by municipal departments and our partners. A team from the offices of the Mayor, Municipal Manager, Anchorage Police, Parks and Recreation, Municipal Attorney, and the Anchorage Health Department meet regularly to assess safety considerations. APD’s Community Action Policing team and outreach partners like the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness make contacts, do outreach, and coordinate with campers leading up to abatement day. Once everyone has departed from a space, the Parks and Recreation Department’s Healthy Spaces team and Municipal contractors work to clear, clean, and restore it. 
 

If you see a camp, report it! Please report camps using the Municipality’s online form. This tells outreach workers where to go and puts new camps on the Muni’s radar for possible enforcement action. To report a camp or to find the latest data on abatement, cleanup, shelter and more, go to: https://addressing-homelessness-muniorg.hub.arcgis.com/.