People Make Communities Strong
By Bryan Butcher, CEO & Executive Director

With the temperatures dropping, it's the perfect time of year to cozy up to the heater and enjoy the falling snow from the comfort of your home. Make sure that your house is protected against the elements! Get started with these 5 simple tips.

As we head indoors and into the holiday season, many of you will be giving thanks. I know that I am, and I'll start with our Alaska Native communities. As Alaska faced the crisis of the pandemic, Alaska Native leaders throughout many organizations played a critical role helping to develop the state's rent relief distribution effort. Their shared knowledge, expertise and commitment to work together had a tremendous impact on the success of the program. November is Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, and I encourage you to learn more about their rich history.

I am also thankful for our staff and partners. Their hard work has changed the lives of so many Alaskans. Like Dhee, who was able to realize her dream of opening a restaurant, and like Alonzo, whose family managed working, a new baby, and paying rent during the pandemic. The ladders that our staff and partners have built to help their fellow Alaskans climb out of challenging times is inspiring, and we'll be sharing more stories like theirs here.

While we celebrate these successes, I know that for many the holidays can be an especially stressful time. We are dedicated to helping our friends and neighbors find assistance in their community. We'll share these resources and more on our Facebook page -  take a look, and follow our page!

Last, I am thankful for you. Whether you have received assistance from one of our housing programs, are on the path to homeownership, are a community partner, a staff member, or just someone who likes to hear from us every month, your relationship with AHFC makes a difference. Thank you for being part of our story.

Wishing you a restful — and warm! — holiday season,
Bryan

Upcoming Mortgage Relief

Interested in progress on the $50 million in federal Coronavirus relief funds?  Sign up to receive updates. AHFC’s Homeowner Assistance plan was submitted to the U.S. Treasury more than two months ago. New York was the first to gain approval just last week. We’re eager for our turn to put this money to work for Alaskans.

Senior Spaces  

Alaska’s growing elderly population creates demand for more accessible housing. From resources about renovation loans that can help pay for a ramp to financing of assisted living facilities, AHFC’s Senior Housing Office is an asset that has been serving the state since 1992. Jim McCall is the Housing Relations Officer and collects a wide range of resources published here. Jim was recently called upon by Alaska’s News Source about more senior living services coming to Anchorage. See the story here.

An Alaska Housing Success Story 

Dhee Wells, executive chef and co-owner of the popular Alaska Burger Co., credits Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Jumpstart with keeping her goal-focused.  A former addict, Jumpstart was a turning point helping her to stay on track, learn how to save and manage money, and take the steps needed to turn her life around.

Meet Andy Petroni

Andy Petroni knows the ins and outs of the Greater Opportunities for Affordable Living program — GOAL for short. Since 2016, he has worked in the planning department, administering tens of millions dollars in funding for affordable housing.  But he also knows how to rip it, whether it’s on a mountain bike or on a snowboard tearing up the backcountry. 

Want to work with Andy or smart people like him? We’re hiring. See our job postings at this link and get ready to start your next professional adventure!

Housing Program Specialist II — Soldotna

Looking for a great place to work? Know someone looking for a new opportunity? Duties include working with clients to ensure they receive accurate information, maintaining accurate records, interpreting complex program rules and more. Apply today or share with others!

Featured Lender: Tiera Maillet

Tiera Maillet is a Mortgage Loan Originator with Homestate Mortgage Company in Anchorage. 

“Alaska Housing strives to help meet the diverse needs of Alaskans and has the local community in mind when guiding clients through the home buying process." said Maillet.

See Our List of All Featured Lenders

Alaska Housing Rent Relief Update

As of November 26, Alaska Housing Rent Relief has paid landlords and utility companies $186,705,510.45 on behalf of 23,486 applicants and 60,175 individuals. 

AHFC’s dashboard is updated online every Friday.

Did you know?

Making homeownership possible for Alaskans is a hallmark for AHFC, and in 2000 we launched a new option for first-time buyers. Learn how Delores used this program — and other AHFC resources — to make her dream of homeownership a reality.

Upcoming HomeChoice Classes

Take our FREE homebuyer education course. The class walks prospective homebuyers through the decisions and steps of buying a home and provides money saving tips about things like closing costs.