Storytelling

When considering housing in Alaska, there are statistics about melting permafrost and overcrowding, the cost of construction materials and the short building season. The underfunding of the Indian Housing Block Grant and similar programs limits the capacity of communities to develop and sustain their stock of safe, sanitary, and affordable housing. To bridge the gap between the statistics and the current policy, AAHA uses story to humanize the data, creating a space for community members to share about the housing needs they see in their day-to-day lives. 

AAHA's storytelling project looks at and documents the social impacts of housing. These social impacts may include areas such as family dynamics, health challenges, or access to education. Stories will be shared through videos and other media to demonstrate the importance of safe, sanitary and affordable housing to policymakers and other key stakeholders. 

How has housing (or challenges with finding and sustaining housing) impacted your life? Would you be willing to share your housing story to help advocate for safe and affordable housing in Alaska? You can do so here on our website, by email, or over the phone.