AHFC awards $5 million in federal grants

November 19, 2020 at 2:16pm in News Releases, COVID-19, Homelessness

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Nov. 19, 2020 –Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is announcing grants under HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants-CV program to help seven nonprofit organizations around Alaska provide rapid rehousing efforts and homelessness prevention for vulnerable populations impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Recipients are:

  • Interior Alaska Center for Non-Violent Living, Fairbanks, $1,105,000 for shelter repairs, internet access for kids in shelter to access online school, rental assistance and case management;
  • Gastineau Human Services, Juneau, $868,230 for rapid rehousing/placement and homeless prevention and case management;
  • Women in Safe Homes (WISH), Ketchikan, $704,569 to renovate a new shelter and operate a rapid housing and homeless prevention program;
  • My House, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, $690,808 for increased street outreach and expanded service for youth;
  • Brother Francis Shelter, Kodiak, $752,197 for shelter upgrades, outreach and case management;
  • Bethel Winter House, $1,000,000 toward purchase and rehabilitation of community shelter;
  • Native Village of Kotzebue, $398,805 to provide rental assistance, meals and warm weather gear;

“As winter sets in and temperatures drop, it is critical for AHFC to be able to support the nonprofits that provide essential housing services to keep at-risk Alaskans and those impacted by loss of income due to COVID-19 safe and warm,” said AHFC CEO/Executive Director Bryan Butcher. “Local organizations know their regions better than anyone. These grants will enable those organizations to respond quickly and, in some cases, expand their capabilities to better serve their unique community needs.”

Before COVID-19 struck, Alaska had an estimated 14,000 persons utilizing homeless prevention programs. That number is now likely higher as the Department of Labor reports lost jobs totaling approximately 40,000, including in the hospitality and visitor industries.

As the state’s housing authority, AHFC is responsible for accepting and distributing state and federal funding for homeless and supportive housing needs, including the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) that is administered outside the Anchorage municipal area. ESG is a federally funded program.

Each applying organization was required to provide AHFC with certifications of compliance, budgets, detailed explanation for how the funds will be used and proof of need.

Fact Sheet:

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Contact: Kalinda Kindle
Communications Specialist, governmental relations and public affairs
(907) 330-8457
kkindle@ahfc.us