The AKPIRG Advocate, November 2025
SNAP, LIHEAP, and the Path Forward
for Alaska’s Safety Net 💛
After the longest federal government shutdown in our nation’s history, Alaskans are still recovering.
Most are aware of the impact that the government shutdown had on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the over 66,000 Alaskans who rely on it to feed themselves and their families. AKPIRG commends the local food banks and mutual aid organizations who met the moment and delivered as much nutrition as they were able to the one in ten Alaskans who rely on food assistance. SNAP benefits have resumed in Alaska, but many households are still catching up from delayed benefits and added financial strain. If you’re able, we encourage you to continue to donate to local food banks and mutual aid groups to help ensure our communities stay fed and supported.
While SNAP is back online, other safety-net programs are still facing uncertainty. The current Continuing Resolution (H.R. 5371), which is temporarily funding the federal government, expires on January 30. One of the programs at risk if Congress does not act is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP helps families keep the heat and lights on, an essential lifeline in Alaska’s climate. After federal staffing cuts earlier this year, the program is already stretched thin, and any future delays or lapses in funding could create further disruptions. Even once funds are approved, it may take states 30-60 days or more to receive them because of ongoing federal administrative delays.
This week, Senator Murkowski joined a bipartisan letter urging Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy to release as much 2026 LIHEAP funding as possible now. We’re grateful for her leadership in pressing for timely assistance. As temperatures drop, AKPIRG remains committed to bringing partners, communities, and decision-makers together to find long-term solutions that keep the heat on in Alaskan homes.
Alaskans deserve far better than the uncertainty created by this shutdown. Allowing essential programs like SNAP and LIHEAP to stall was a failure of government to serve the most vulnerable of our neighbors. Yet even in this difficult moment, Alaskans showed what real support looks like – neighbors looking out for one another, food banks and mutual aid groups stepping up, and community leaders pushing for action. These past weeks highlighted both the fragility of our safety net and the remarkable strength of our communities.
AKPIRG is proud to stand alongside our neighbors and partners, advocating for policies that keep every household safe, warm, and supported, and we remain committed to helping build the systems and solutions Alaskans deserve.
If you’re in a position to do so, we encourage you to support the community organizations that continue to show up for Alaskans in times of need.
A New Chapter for Tenant Power in Southeast Alaska 🎥
Join us for a special movie night and community celebration in Juneau!
AKPIRG is excited to partner with the newly formed Tongass Tenants Alliance (TTA) for their first-ever public event: a free community screening of Rent on Tuesday, December 9th at 7pm at the Gold Town Nickelodeon.
The launch of TTA marks an exciting milestone for expanding tenant-led housing advocacy in Southeast Alaska and adds new energy to the statewide push for safe, accessible, and affordable housing for all.
We’d love for you to be part of this launch! Bring a friend, grab some popcorn, and join us at the Gold Town Nickelodeon!
When: December 9th @ 7pm
Where: Gold Town Nickelodeon, Juneau, AK
AKPIRG Annual Staff Retreat ⭐️
Last week, AKPIRG staff came together in Anchorage for our annual Staff Retreat! These yearly gatherings give us a chance to pause, reconnect, and reflect on the deeper direction of our work.
A major focus of our retreat was continuing the long-term process of decolonizing how we show up as an organization. We spent time examining our internal practices, considering where we still have room to grow, and discussing what decolonizing truly means to us as an organization. We talked through and recommitted to principles that matter most to us: creating space, valuing lived experiences, and connecting with Indigenous groups early in our projects to find deeper meaning and solutions to issues that affect us all.
We also turned toward the future. Over three days, we reflected on our goals, values, and the ways we want to grow as an organization. These conversations will guide us for years to come as we continue our commitment to serving Alaska communities with integrity and accountability.
We left feeling grounded in our shared values and motivated to keep advancing:
transparent, accountable government
robust language access
people-centered economic policy
a renewable, resilient, and accessible energy future for Alaska
Thank you for supporting us as we work toward a more just Alaska.
If you’d like to learn more about our work or donate visit akpirg.org/donate
Nihłireechyàa, We Are Counting:
American Community Survey Resources in Alaska Native Languages
In our last newsletter, we shared that for several months we’ve been working closely with the AKPIRG Alaska Native Language Panels to bring accessible messaging about the American Community Survey (ACS) in nine Alaska Native languages. This month – Native American Heritage Month – we're excited to announce that we've officially launched the digital toolkit on our website!
In the toolkit, you’ll learn about all the work and cultural knowledge that went into the ACS project. You’ll find thirteen posters that highlight a culmination of collaboration between Elders and culture bearers, each representing one of nine Alaska Native languages. The team worked with Black and White Raven Company to bring the panelists graphic design vision to life. These posters share the importance of the American Community Survey in ways that resonate locally to each of the communities.
Jaylein Kriska, Language Access Coordinator for AKPIRG’s Language Access Team said the following about the project:
“ACS is something I became passionate about over the course of this project. I learned that it helps communities in need of jobs, healthcare, development, and much more by simply filling out one survey for the whole community.”
We encourage you to explore the gallery of posters, download the printable and digital versions, and share them with your communities and partners. By sharing these materials you can help ensure that every community voice is heard.
This month, we are highlighting the Unangam Tunuu panelists posters, brought to you in the Atka Niiĝux̂ dialect by the AKPIRG Unangam Tunuu Language Panel, with Moses Dirks, Barbara Shangin, and Crystal Dushkin. One poster highlights the ACS, and the other focuses on civic engagement – both feature images from Atka, the home of our panelists.
Alaska has long been a national leader in energy security, but recent volatility at the federal level has slowed progress and cut off key financing options, leaving many communities at a critical crossroads. That’s why, last month, we brought people together to talk honestly about where we go from here.
Alongside our partners at United Today, Stronger Tomorrow (UTST), we hosted a roundtable that gathered 40 participants from 22 organizations – utility leaders, Tribal representatives, business owners, and energy experts from across the state. Together, we dug into practical, community-driven solutions to help ensure long-term affordability and reliability, both on the Railbelt and in off-grid communities.
The conversations were rich and wide-ranging: building energy policy literacy among legislators and the public; strengthening the resilience of our energy systems; exploring regulatory reforms; and making sure the tools we use actually work for the communities most affected by funding cuts. We pulled these insights into a memo and shared it with state lawmakers so they can put these ideas to work.
The biggest takeaway of the day was that people want more spaces like this. In a moment when Alaska is facing serious energy challenges, the act of coming together to listen, learn, and collaborate is one of our greatest strengths.
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us, and we’re excited to keep this momentum going. This is just the beginning of a longer conversation about how we build a more resilient, affordable energy future for Alaska.
To learn more about our energy work, visit akpirg.org/energy
To make a donation to support convenings like this, visit akpirg.org/donate
Tenants Rights Training on December 9! 🏠
Know your rights as a renter! Anchorage Housing Club and the ACLU of Alaska are teaming up to host a Tenants Rights Training on December 9, 6–7:30pm at 2522 Arctic Blvd. This is a great opportunity to learn about your legal protections as a tenant, ask questions, and connect with others navigating housing challenges in Anchorage.
For more information, reach out to our Anchorage Housing Organizer, Nithya, at nithya@akpirg.org.
What: Tenants Rights Training with Anchorage Housing Club and the ACLU of Alaska
When: December 9, 6:00-7:30pm
Where: The AKPIRG Office, 2522 Arctic Blvd
