Kodiak’s Housing Action Plan Dashboard: A Data-Driven Tool for Our Community
Kodiak, Alaska, a unique island community celebrated for its rugged landscapes and vibrant fishing industry faces a significant challenge: a housing shortage that affects families, businesses, and the community’s future. Addressing this issue is crucial for Kodiak’s resilience and growth. Kodiak Economic Development Corporation (KEDC), in partnership with the Center for Economic Development (CED), has been working to create a dashboard to help with this challenge. This interactive tool transforms complex housing data into an accessible resource for residents, policymakers, and stakeholders. After months of collaboration, including a community survey and 1-on-1 interviews, the dashboard is now live at kodiakedc.com/hap-dashboard.
In Kodiak, rising costs, limited inventory, and growing demand create barriers for families seeking affordable homes and businesses needing to house employees. These pressures impact daily life and the island’s long-term vitality. The Housing Action Plan Dashboard provides a clear view of these challenges, offering data on housing units, rent prices, and demographic trends. It’s a practical tool designed to inform decisions and spark solutions, accessible to everyone from local leaders to everyday residents. It will be updated to ensure that our community has information they need as it becomes available.
How the Dashboard Was Built
Developing the dashboard required extensive effort and community input. Together, KEDC and the CED team, conducted a community survey to gather insights from Kodiak residents about their housing experiences on issues like affordability and the need for rentals. This survey remains open, and we encourage you to share your perspective here to help make our understanding and reporting accurate. We are especially in need of feedback from ages 18 to 30 as well as those living here less than five years.
Complementing the survey, 1-on-1 interviews with residents, business owners, policymakers, and housing advocates added depth to the data. These conversations uncovered both the scope of the problem and potential solutions rooted in local knowledge. The team then analyzed this blend of quantitative and qualitative information, working to refine metrics and design a tool that’s both comprehensive and easy to use. The result is now available at kodiakedc.com/hap-dashboard.
What Is a Dashboard?
A dashboard is an interactive tool that organizes complex data into a clear, visual format with charts, graphs, and maps. Much like a car’s dashboard simplifies vehicle information, this tool makes housing data approachable and actionable. Dashboards are used widely, and created for all users, not just experts. The goal is turning raw numbers into insights anyone can understand. At least that has been our goal. We hope to hear from you if we have met that challenge.
Why the Dashboard Matters
The Housing Action Plan Dashboard delivers essential information about Kodiak’s housing landscape, including:
Housing Units: How many homes are available and where gaps exist.
Rent Prices: Trends to help families and businesses plan.
Demographic Shifts: Changes in population that influence housing needs.
This data serves multiple purposes:
Policymakers can develop targeted strategies.
Developers can pinpoint high-demand areas.
Residents can better understand the housing market.
Non-profits can leverage the data for grant applications and program planning.
“This tool reflects the power of collaboration and data-driven decision-making. We’re excited to share it with the community to support the work meaningful change. We have much more to add and develop with this dashboard. It is part of the process as we work on the Housing Action Plan,” KEDC Executive Director Melissa Schoenwether explains.
A KEDC partner from the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) also noted, “I just wanted to commend you on the KEDC website. I have yet to encounter a non-profit organization that utilizes their website in such a dynamic way. The quality of information and effort in being transparent in work and connecting to the community shows.” KEDC wants our community to have an information hub that is thoughtful and meaningful for developing strategies that aid in solving issues we face.
A Collaborative Effort
This project owes its success to the Denali Commission, whose grant for the Housing Action Plan made it possible. Established by Congress in 1998, the Denali Commission supports Alaska’s remote communities through projects like energy systems, transportation, and now housing initiatives. Their investment has turned months of work into a lasting resource for Kodiak, and we’re grateful for their partnership.
Housing as a Community Priority
Safe, affordable housing strengthens Kodiak. It allows families to settle, businesses to grow, and the community to flourish. When housing is scarce, the effects ripple outward. Families face uncertainty, and employers struggle to attract workers. The dashboard highlights these challenges and opportunities, empowering us to act proactively. It’s a step toward a future where everyone in Kodiak has a place to call home.
How You Can Use It
The dashboard is built for everyone.
We invite you to:
Explore the Dashboard: Visit kodiakedc.com/hap-dashboard to interact with the data—click through charts and maps to see what stands out.
Share Your Insights: Add your voice to the ongoing survey here. Your input shapes our next steps.
Join the Conversation: Housing solutions start with community effort. Be sure you are on our mailing list so we can keep you informed for meetings, community discussions, and further opportunities.
Looking Ahead
The Housing Action Plan Dashboard is a starting point. By combining data with local perspectives, we can address Kodiak’s housing challenges together. Explore it, use it, and help us build a stronger, more resilient Kodiak.
