Rental Assistance for Alaskans
By Bryan Butcher 

This past year has tested our resilience as a state, community, and corporation as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our everyday lives. As a corporation we are grateful for the opportunity to keep Alaskans safe and healthy in their homes.

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation has been trusted with nearly $200 million in federal funds to help renters and landlords with financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alaska Housing Rent Relief is designed to help Alaskan renters and landlords cover up to 12 months of rent and utilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many Alaskans loss of income, loss of jobs, and economic downturn in top industries like tourism and hospitality. We encourage eligible renters to apply for rent relief.

Pre-register and sign-up to receive announcements regarding Alaska Housing Rent Relief funds, eligibility, and application process. The window to submit applications to AHFC is Feb. 16 at 8 a.m. until March 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

Despite COVID-19 hardships, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation maintains a good financial position and continues to serve and provide Alaskans with safe, quality, affordable housing. We are pleased to share our 2020 Annual Report. One highlight is our dividend to the State of Alaska of $42.6 million, on par with last year’s dividend. Read more about how we managed the COVID-19 crisis and continued our mission in our 2020 Annual Report.

This year Alaska Housing celebrates its 50th anniversary. We look forward to continuing our mission as we have for the past 50 years.

2020 Annual Report: Testing Our Resilience

In spite of and the hardships and suffering brought on by the  COVID-19 pandemic, Alaska Housing emerged from fiscal year 2020 in good shape, positioned to respond to community needs and to promote access to safe, quality, affordable housing.

The annual report, released in January, tells the story of how the corporation managed the pandemic and still delivered on its mission. Highlights include: 

• The dividend to the State of Alaska is $42.6 million, on par with last year’s dividend except for a slight dip in the fourth quarter due to a slowdown in mortgage and investment activity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
   
• Operating income increased to $35.5 million in FY20, compared to $34.8 million in FY19. It’s the eighth year in a row the corporation shows year over year operating income growth. 
   
• Federal CARES funds used for Alaska housing relief created the infrastructure to provide rent and mortgage assistance with payments made directly to landlords and mortgage servicers, keeping thousands of Alaskans securely housed.
   
• While in hunker-down mode Alaskans turned to home renovation, resulting in a record high $29 million in renovation loans.  

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