In an effort to help tackle the affordable housing crunch in Anchorage, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation began working with the Alaska State Legislature in 2010 on a bill that would expand AHFC’s authority with a subsidiary corporation to finance or facilitate acquisition, development, management and operations of affordable housing statewide. In 2011, Governor Parnell signed that bill into law. Coupled with millions of dollars thanks to a settlement with mortgage companies after the predatory lending practices plagued our Lower 48 neighbors, plus federal funds, tax credits, loans and other layers of financing we began working more earnestly on two new Anchorage projects: Ridgeline Terrace in Mt.View and Susitna Square off San Roberto Avenue.

AHFC is privileged to act as convener at Ridgeline Terrace where 70 new units of housing will be added to a 6 ½ acre neighborhood plat off Mountain View Drive. We recently started work on Susitna Square off Bragaw Street demolishing outdated housing that will be replaced with modern, five-star plus energy-efficient housing that will benefit families who live there and the neighbors who surround it.

We worked with our neighbors to put our financing plans in place, and we solicited more partnerships. In all, we count Senators Murkowski and Begich, Congressman Young, the 60 members of the state legislature, Governor Parnell and members of his administration, Anchorage Mayor Sullivan and his administration, non-profit groups like the Rasmuson Foundation, Kids Corp. and Special Olympics, and others like KeyBank and Cook Inlet Housing Authority, and Anchorage Community Land Trust among our partners.

Our thanks go out to all who got involved in advancing these projects, including the federal Housing & Urban Development agency, along with Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church and all of our great partners who are working to make Alaska a better place to live.

Bryan Butcher
CEO/Executive Director

For November, AHFC is offering two “How to Read Your Energy Rating” online webinars on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 from
11:30 am to 1:30 pm and Tuesday, November 18, 2014
from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. All you need to “attend” is an internet connection and a phone.  You must register to receive the links. Attend a “How to Read Your Energy Rating” class from the comfort of your own office or home.

Participants can sign up online or by calling Betty Hall at (330-8166).

In partnership with the Office of Children's Services and the Department of Corrections, AHFC's Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Programs (TBRA)  provides eligible low-income individuals and families with financial assistance to obtain affordable housing. It helps families lease privately owned rental units from participating landlords. TBRA provides 12 months of rental assistance and security deposit assistance to eligible families.

The Alaska Department of Corrections provides direct referrals for individuals leaving the corrections system and the Office of Children's Services refers youth aging out of foster care. After completing a screening process, families and individuals attend a briefing class outlining program rules and instructions about how to look for a rental unit in their community. Rental units must be found using local sources such as newspapers, rental websites and other resources.

AHFC and the Department of Corrections found that since 2009, the TBRA program has saved approximately $400,000 from the 43 people who would have otherwise gone back to prison based on their incarceration history. After compiling the data it appears that people released from Corrections with TBRA coupons appear less likely to return to Corrections than people who are released from Corrections without TBRA coupons. Currently the TBRA program is assisting 79 people through its vouchers.

For more information about the TBRA program click HERE.

Aside from the HomeDelivery newsletter, AHFC also provides other resources for you to stay engaged with what is going on within the organization. Are you interested in our current interest rates or service seller memos? Would you like to know when our board meetings are? You can sign up HERE to receive notifications of interest to you.

AHFC has entered into a School Business Partnership with Scenic Park Elementary School located on 3933 Patterson Street in Anchorage, close to AHFC headquarters.

The first event to kick-off the partnership was National Walk to School Day on October 8. Volunteers from AHFC walked students to school and served hot chocolate.

The partnership will continue with a reading buddy program where AHFC staff will be matched with a student from Scenic Park. They will meet once per week for an hour to work on reading literacy and comprehension.

Bryan Butcher, CEO/executive director, happily signed off on the partnership. His mother is a teacher so he says he understands first-hand how a quality education can improve student success. Equally important, says Butcher, is, “so many of the homeless families we serve have children. When families are struggling to make ends meet, things like reading to kids too often goes by the wayside. Being part of the Anchorage community and this Tudor/Boniface neighborhood means more than showing up to work every day. We have an obligation to participate where there are needs. We identified this need and we have the resources to make a bit of a difference. I’m proud to support this School Business Partnership by allowing our employees to participate in school activities. I’m sure our collective efforts will make a difference.”