Dear Editor: I’ve grown up in Sitka, and one of the best things about living here is how close the community feels. You recognize people around town, everyone knows everyone, and it really feels like home. But lately, that feeling is fading because so many people can’t afford to live here anymore.
Housing in Sitka is extremely expensive compared to what most people earn. According to U.S. housing data, the average rent in Sitka is around $1,048 a month just for a studio apartment. For families, young adults, and people working regular local jobs, that’s just not realistic. When there aren’t enough affordable options, people are forced to move away even if they’ve lived here their whole lives.
Reports about housing in Sitka show that this problem hits Native families, elders, and lower-income workers especially hard. When teachers, health care workers, and other necessary workers can’t find housing, it doesn’t just affect them, it affects the whole community.
Housing isn’t just a personal issue, it’s a community issue. Sitka depends on the people who live and work here, and if we want to keep our town strong, we need to make sure people can actually afford to stay. That means protecting long-term rentals, supporting affordable housing projects, and making housing a real priority.
A healthy Sitka isn’t just beautiful views. It’s teachers, health care workers, young families, elders, and lifelong locals being able to stay here.
Kiera Watson, Sitka
