Mark Romick, deputy executive director, enjoying time with granddaughter, Leila. 

Impacting Alaskan Families in Meaningful Ways
By Mark Romick, Deputy Executive Director

Summertime in Alaska means getting out to explore our wonderful state, filling our freezers with fish, and making lifelong memories with our families and neighbors. I am excited to share very positive updates on our programs and the progress we have made for Alaskans so far this summer. 

A common question from both renters and landlords is, "When will I receive rent relief funds?” We are happy to report that every qualified applicant in the Alaska Housing Rent Relief program has been contacted by a member of our payment processing team.

As of Thursday, July 22, more than $73 million has been distributed, helping more than 40,000 Alaskans. Applicants can check the status of their application here, or call the toll free Rent Relief hotline at 1-844-330-8290. 

Safety Net, an AHFC rental assistance program, has helped safeguard Alaskan families living in public housing and experiencing income loss due to COVID-19. Approximately $3 million in monthly rent has been paid to landlords statewide through the program.

Thanks to the dedicated staff at AHFC, our nonprofit partners, Regional Housing Authorities and the Municipality of Anchorage, we were able to get rent relief to those that needed it the most, as quickly as possible. By working together, Alaskans just like you continue to make our mission of providing access to safe, quality, affordable housing possible.

I hope that you'll celebrate this unbeatable Alaskan spirit with me as you enjoy another summer under the midnight sun.

Alaska Housing Rent Relief Program Update

Every Alaskan who applied for rent and/or utility relief has been contacted.  AHFC provides a weekly update about our progress which can be found on our dashboard. 

Safety Net: An Opportunity for Further Relief 

“We don’t want to evict people. Our first choice is to work with a family. The sooner we can start that work, the better the outcomes. Evictions are stressful, time consuming and produce a lot of angst,” says Cathy Stone, director, public housing.

If you are enrolled in a qualifying AHFC public housing program, you should know about Safety Net. AHFC will temporarily reduce monthly rent paid by AHFC tenants who have lost income due to COVID-19, and AHFC will pay landlords the difference. 

Landlords: Do you have a vacant rental unit? 

AHFC is looking for landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. The benefit to landlords is that you can receive dependable and timely rent while helping low-income, elderly, and veteran households, as well as families with children or those who have disabilities.

Common Housing Choice Voucher questions:

“Can Landlords charge Housing Choice Vouchers tenants the same rent as their Non-Housing Choice Voucher tenants?“  Yes! Landlords can charge the full rent.

“If you accept one Housing Choice Voucher tenant, do all of your units have to be rented to Housing Choice Voucher tenants?" No! Renting unit(s) to Housing Choice Voucher tenants does not further obligate you to rent to other Housing Choice Voucher tenants. For each vacancy, you should follow your established policies for screening prospective tenants.

List Your Available Housing Rental on AHFC's Housing Locator

Have questions? Call (907) 330-6100 direct or contact one of our housing assistance locations in your community.

Grants Available for Rural Teacher, Health Professional, and Public Safety Housing

Our Teacher, Health Professional, and Public Safety Housing grant program is now open. Safe, quality and affordable housing is fundamental. This grant offers an opportunity to build or renovate housing to attract and retain targeted professionals to rural communities. Groups eligible and encouraged to apply are: 

• Non-profits
• State or local government entities
• Tribal entities
• Health corporations
• School districts 
• Public safety 

Upcoming Mortgage Relief

Are you a homeowner struggling to pay your mortgage? AHFC is slated to receive an estimated $50 million to assist homeowners impacted by COVID-19. Pending guidance from the U.S. Treasury, AHFC will announce details, including eligibility and the application process.

Home Loan Programs for Veterans

Alaska was just named in the Top 5 Best States for Veterans to Retire by DefenseNews. According to Wallethub, Alaska has the most veterans per capita, and AHFC is proud to offer several loan programs for qualified veterans. Programs offer features such as reduced interest rates, little to no down payment options and more.

Featured Job: Housing Technician — Anchorage

Looking for a great place to work? Know someone looking for a new opportunity? Duties include assisting with the processing of public housing admissions: determining eligibility, maintaining files, working with clients, ensuring safety, etc. Apply today or share with others! 

What's On Our Calendar

HomeChoice Webinars — view open dates in July.

Thinking about purchasing a home? HomeChoice is a no cost six-hour, pre-purchase homebuyer educational class. You'll hear from experts on topics such as:

• How to shop for a lender and a real estate professional
• Title insurance
• Energy-efficient homes
• How to get a home loan