Native Village of Kotzebue to receive $398K

KOTZEBUE, Alaska, Dec. 2, 2020 – Rental assistance and mortgage/rental arrears/community food service and warm weather gear and emergency shelter collaboration are among the resources to be supported under a federally-funded grant from Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to the Native Village of Kotzebue. Funding is being awarded to address increased needs and challenges of serving Kotzebue’s at-risk and homeless population during the COVID-19 crisis. Of the $5 million awarded statewide, Native Village of Kotzebue will receive $398,805.

“Our 2018 Statewide Housing Assessment shows 18% of households being overcrowded and another 21% identified as severely overcrowded in Northwest Arctic Borough. As winter sets in and temperatures drop, at risk Alaskans and those impacted by loss of income due to COVID-19 have to stay safe and warm,” said AHFC CEO/Executive Director Bryan Butcher. “Warmth and safety should not be mutually exclusive. This grant will help the Native Village of Kotzebue better serve the entire region.”

In its grant application, the Native Village of Kotzebue proposes to use the grant to help residents who rent or own to pay for their housing, continue to provide once-a-day meals through a collaboration with Northwest Alaska Homeless Coalition, and provide warm-weather gear, including coats, boots, hats and sanitation supplies like facemasks, gloves and hand sanitizer to keep homeless residents safe.
To qualify for the grant, which was part of $5 million awarded statewide, the Native Village of Kotzebue provided AHFC with certifications of compliance, budget worksheets, a detailed explanation for how the
funds will be used and proof of need.

Fact Sheet:

• AHFC’s use of HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant-CV

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is a public corporation providing Alaskans access to safe, quality and affordable housing through residential financing, energy efficiency, public housing and more. Since 1986, Alaska Housing has contributed more than $2.1 billion to the State of Alaska.

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