On Tuesday night, the Anchorage Municipal Assembly introduced a new ordinance (AO No. 2025-74) that, if passed, would make it a crime to sleep or otherwise live on public land anywhere in Anchorage. The proposed ordinance makes “prohibited camping” a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to a $2000 fine and up to six months in jail.
Mara Kimmel, Executive Director for the ACLU of Alaska, issued the following statement in response to the proposed ordinance.
“This proposed ordinance forces our unhoused neighbors into an impossible choice: leave Anchorage altogether to comply with the law or face criminal charges for existing outside when you have nowhere else to go. This proposed change does not make our community safer, help people get the services they need, or put people on a pathway to stable and permanent housing. Criminalizing poverty in this way violates people’s constitutional rights to due process, equal protection, and freedom from excessive fines. As we consider options to address homelessness, we have an opportunity to advance a more humane approach that reflects our community’s commitment to look out for each other.”
The ACLU of Alaska filed litigation in 2023 and 2025 challenging the constitutionality of the current Municipal Code provisions on “prohibited camping.” Both lawsuits are ongoing.
The ACLU of Alaska is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all Alaskans, regardless of their housing status.
