AHFC's New Warehouse Facilitates an Opportunity to Help Our Neighbors

In the aftermath of devastating storms that hit western Alaska in October 2025, federal, state and volunteer organizations came together to help coordinate temporary housing for entire communities of Alaskans who were forced to evacuate, leaving their homes and everything they owned behind.

Back up to 2024, with approval from Governor Dunleavy and the Alaska Legislature Alaska Housing Finance Corporation acquired 30,000 square feet of floor space in the form of a warehouse at 700 Bragaw St. to better meet the needs of its public housing portfolio. It was obvious to AHFC’s leadership team that the warehouse had the space, equipment and staff needed to receive large donations and to partner with other Alaskans to support their western neighbors and welcome them to Anchorage.

“JL Properties in Fairbanks had an extended stay hotel that they were getting ready to refurbish,” says Mike Singleton, AHFC director of operations and facilities management.

“They offered to provide up to 45 rooms worth of furniture: microwaves, refrigerators, TVs, dressers, tables, chairs, beds… They were in a crunch with their timeline and needed a place to send the furniture but storage in Anchorage is limited. I was asked to reach out to see how we could make it happen.”

Because the AHFC warehouse was used to support scattered public housing sites, perform maintenance and mobilize different projects, Mike said, “This would be a test of our capabilities, the first exercise to see how well we could respond.”

“We knew that this was an opportunity and that if we missed it, there would be a significant financial cost for other entities to donate similar goods or for the families who would have to go out and find something to fill their new space. As we know from news stories, these families left their homes with virtually nothing. Now they have to create a whole household out of thin air with limited resources. Since AHFC had the facility space to manage the donation, we decided that we would be that go-between between Fairbanks and distribution in Anchorage.”

Team Rubicon volunteers at AHFC's warehouse, December 2025.

JL Properties contracted with AAA Moving & Storage to move all the furniture out of the hotel. Matson, a shipping company, stepped in to provide the necessary containers and Big Dreams Trucking offered to deliver the trailers to Anchorage. The team effort meant that five 45-foot trailers pulled up to AHFC’s warehouse full of furniture and appliances ready to be distributed to evacuees who were moving into long-term temporary housing.

Volunteers from Team Rubicon helped unload the first two trailers.

“The Team Rubicon volunteers are ‘get it done’ kind of folks,” said Mike. “They came to Alaska from all over and just got down to work.”

AHFC’s facilities management team helped unload the last three trailers and office staff assisted with inventorying supplies, providing information to the statewide disaster response team coordinating housing.

“We’re currently working with FEMA who have requested 16 units worth of furniture,” Mike said, standing in the warehouse just before Christmas, surrounded by furniture that was staged and ready for pick-up.

"We’re fairly new at learning this type of operations because we just got the warehouse last year,” said Mike. “But it’s an opportunity for us to participate in the relief effort and do what we can to help.”