It's a Heartbreaking problem

For the price of a sandwich, you could save a life.

In October, The Anchorage Daily News reported on data released by the Anchorage Police department that an appalling 43 people had died outdoors and homeless in that city alone in 2023, with the year not yet over. A disproportionate number of those people are Native Alaskans.

So why are so many people dying? Homeless people are at much higher risk of harm due to violence and exposure than the general population due to several factors:

  • They don't know where to go. In 2022, Alaska's largest homeless shelter, the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, closed its doors, and in Fairbanks, as of 2023, there exists no low-barrier, all-inclusive shelter for the general population.
  • Don't have transport. It goes without saying but most people without homes, also do not have functional cars, and public transport is costly. In modern, spread out cities, this makes getting to a safe place incredibly difficult.
  • They aren't in contact with family or friends. When someone goes missing, or is experiencing an emergency, response times by investigators are often lengthened by the fact that there was no indication that the individual was in distress. Accountability and constant contact is essential for being able to respond and help people in need.
  • They don't know where to go. In 2022, Alaska's largest homeless shelter, the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, closed its doors, and in Fairbanks, as of 2023, there exists no low-barrier, all-inclusive shelter for the general population.
  • Don't have transport. It goes without saying but most people without homes, also do not have functional cars, and public transport is costly. In modern, spread out cities, this makes getting to a safe place incredibly difficult.
  • They aren't in contact with family or friends. When someone goes missing, or is experiencing an emergency, response times by investigators are often lengthened by the fact that there was no indication that the individual was in distress. Accountability and constant contact is essential for being able to respond and help people in need.

Our Solution - We Made An App!

It seems extremely simple, but almost all Native Alaskans today have some form of smartphone, so we decided the fastest way to get them the information and connection they need is through an app.

Apps like Maps, Lyft, Uber, and a handful of women’s safety apps work well, but apps like these often contain irrelevent information, are single-function, not user-friendly, and require payment for services. That’s why we created the Operation: NightLight App.

  • All-in-one. A simple map with directions from anywhere, to the closest Operation: NightLight shelter, and a quick access S.O.S button with pre-programmed, trusted personal and emergency contact information, together in one app.
  • Created by and for Native Alaskans. Designed by a Native Alaskan who has formerly experienced homelessness, our app is built to help fulfill the specific needs that Native Alaskan homeless face. From immediate emergency response, to life-saving information.
  • Adaptable. New functions may be added in the future, if there is funding, and constant updates mean it never goes out of date or stops working. We hope to add a nighttime emergency transport service in the future as well!
  • All-in-one. A simple map with directions from anywhere, to the closest Operation: NightLight shelter, and a quick access S.O.S button with pre-programmed, trusted personal and emergency contact information, together in one app.
  • Created by and for Native Alaskans. Designed by a Native Alaskan who has formerly experienced homelessness, our app is built to help fulfill the specific needs that Native Alaskan homeless face. From immediate emergency response, to life-saving information.
  • Adaptable. New functions may be added in the future, if there is funding, and constant updates mean it never goes out of date or stops working. We hope to add a nighttime emergency transport service in the future as well!

And... is it free?

This is where you come in. We need your help!

Our goal is to raise $5,000 by February 1, 2024. It’s surprisingly expensive to fund an app, and in order to truly make it free to use for the people who need it, we need your help. It takes just $15 per month to make the application available, completely for free, to one of your fellow Alaskans.

According to the United States Census, In 2021 the population of Alaska was 732,673. If just 0.15% of the population of Alaska (just over 1,000 people) donated $15 each, we could completely pay for the development of the app, and set us on the path to new projects to protect and house Native Alaskans experiencing homelessness. 

Donate Now