Alaska’s Housing Crisis
Out of control construction costs and an overall lack of affordable housing highlight the dire need for change.
Many Alaskan communities, large and small, are facing difficulties with housing.
There are a few things driving the problem: Rent and new construction are both prohibitively expensive. Existing buildings are sometimes pushing 50+ years since their construction and have fallen into disrepair. Climate change threatens Alaskan native housing due to coastal erosion, wildfires, erratic weather, and increased snowfall. And, in general, there’s a lack of economic opportunity combined with unaffordable or unavailable housing.
This housing problem is a critical issue to solve, and Xtreme Habitats Institute (XHI) is committed to designing, developing, testing, and deploying affordable housing solutions that will allow for attainable and sustainable home ownership in rural Alaska. The tools, techniques, and technologies developed by XHI will be shared with local builders, state, federal, and tribal housing organizations, and the world to address affordability problems wherever they may occur.
At the instruction of the Board of Directors, XHI has adopted a mission set to solve this housing crisis and to actively work with Alaskan Native Tribes and villages, incorporating local knowledge and resources, in order to help alleviate the housing challenges they face.
Current and Future Housing PLans for ALaska
Reducing Costs with 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP)
One of XHI’s current projects uses 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP). Xtreme Habitats Institute is actively working to demonstrate 3D-printed housing in the city of Nome. As co-recipients of a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) research grant, they are jointly working in partnership with the City of Nome, Penn State University, and X-Hab 3D. As part of the project, XHI is investigating local options for sourcing aggregates and identifying the best cost-effective and sustainable concrete mixtures.
Modular Prefabricated Components
Xtreme Habitats is currently researching and testing the feasibility of using modular housing materials and components. The goal is to develop housing that is both durable and efficient, and could be far more quickly assembled than traditional construction.
Furthering Research
By working with local Alaskan communities to address their immediate needs, Xtreme Habitats Institute intends to take these lessons learned and reapply them to other areas and communities. We hope that, going forward, the valuable insights we will gain from these efforts will create affordable, durable housing components in the state of Alaska – and beyond.