Keeping Alaskans in Their Homes
By Bryan Butcher, CEO/Executive Director

The news can be overwhelming these days. Reports of families struggling to pay rent and people at risk of losing their homes, possible relief programs, eviction moratoriums and extensions, evolving state and federal policies — there is a lot to digest. We know it’s difficult to sort through all this information, and we’re here to provide Alaskans with guidance and support.

Our mission is to provide Alaskans access to safe, quality and affordable housing. Whether it’s a family living in public housing, an individual receiving a housing voucher, a homeowner, or a landlord, our goal is to keep Alaskans in their homes. We have worked hard to build relationships and know that families trust us to provide relevant and timely information. Meeting that need is more important than ever.

When the federal order extending the eviction moratorium was announced, we knew Alaskan families would need clear guidance. The moratorium doesn’t relieve renters or homeowners of their obligation to pay their rent. We worked to clarify this by publishing Eviction Ban Extended for Renters on our blog. We provided specific steps for eligible families to stay in their housing, and we suggested options for those who do not qualify under the eviction ban.

For families already participating in an AHFC housing program, we went one step further with specific guidance for:

• Rent Guidance for Public Housing Families;
• Voucher Recipients: Info on Rent & Eviction;
• Guidance for Landlords on Tenants & Rent.

While we pride ourselves on providing relevant guidance, we know that Alaskan families need more than just information. Immediate and long-term housing needs are met through multiple programs — like the ones below — that get funding into the hands of those who need it the most.

Our Safety Net and Alaska Housing Relief programs are providing financial help to those who lost income due to COVID-19. New partnerships are coming online with communities around the state, including Kenai, Soldotna, Kachemak, Wasilla, and Sitka where they are putting their CARES Act funds to work for residents struggling to pay their rent or mortgage.

Helping families to understand new regulations and providing financial relief programs is incredibly important, but spending more time inside our homes means people are also looking for advice about daily living and planning for the future. With this in mind, we:

• Give parents tips on keeping their family safe and healthy;
• Get job seekers on the road to employment;
• Help everyone plan for financial stability.

You’ll see articles like these and others on our blog with new resources posted every week. As partners in our success, we encourage you to visit the blog, let us know what you think, offer suggestions for future posts, and share with your social networks so that all Alaska families who qualify can make use of these programs.

Working together, we can provide resources to make sure that our fellow Alaskans will continue to call our great state “home” — now, and in the future.

Betty Hall's Energy Corner: Indoor Air Quality & COVID-19

Editor’s Note: After 22 years with Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Betty Hall retired at the end of September. Thank you, Betty — for your HomeDelivery columns, teaching HomeChoice or Energy Efficiency classes, and sharing materials from the Research Information Center. Congratulations!

In the past, indoor air quality (IAQ) primarily related to indoor air pollutants such as mold, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), off-gassing from our flooring and furniture, and even the cleaning supplies we use.

COVID-19 has created another level of concern for IAQ. It is thought that COVID-19 spreads mainly through person-to-person contact, but there is uncertainty about different routes of transmission.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends “increasing ventilation with outdoor air and air filtration as part of a larger strategy that includes social distancing, wearing cloth face coverings or masks, surface cleaning and disinfecting, hand washing and other precautions.”

Reducing Airborne Transmission of COVID-19

• Adjust fans to not blow directly from one person to another
• Increase ventilation by opening windows to allow cross ventilation
• Open the highest and lowest window on each floor
• Use your bathroom fan when in use and continuously if possible
• Use an HRV or ERV ventilation system and be sure that it’s working

It’s not too late to complete your 2020 Census!

It only takes 10 minutes for you to help ensure Alaskans receive their share of representation, adequate support and a balanced infrastructure. 

Why is it important to get counted? The census provides critical data for federal funding to support hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and more.

Featured Job: Temporary Maintenance Laborer

Alaska Housing is seeking a temporary Maintenance Laborer in Juneau. Know someone with a high school diploma or equivalent and three months experience in care of buildings, grounds and equipment, looking for a new opportunity? This position might be the right fit.