Overview

As Alaska Housing Rent Relief came to a close, it became evident a program was needed to help find immediate housing solutions for homeless Alaskans, with a goal to find longer-term housing solutions.

Simultaneously, AHFC leaned into the flexibility offered by the one-time U.S. Treasury funding and saw the opportunity to address today's housing insecurities. 

After surveying the housing landscape, Alaska Housing took steps to develop an innovative solution that addresses the broader spectrum and challenges related to those who experience homelessness statewide. This approach begins by meeting Alaskans where they are – on the streets, in emergency shelter or fleeing domestic violence – and offering immediate safe housing and up to 12 months of rent.

As of February 2022, Alaska Housing Stabilization & Recovery is successfully being deployed with 20 key community partners across the state.

Building a Solution

To achieve this goal, Alaska Housing built a custom application system tailored to the needs of its team, its partners and its clients. The integrated platform provides one location for information to be stored and shared. Client records are created on a tablet in a few minutes, which are then updated in real time for Alaska Housing and our Housing Stabilization & Recovery partners. This system allows housing navigators and participating partners to quickly move those in need into safe, temporary housing.

Once temporarily housed, navigators then work toward locating more long-term housing. From there, clients are connected with resources specific to their circumstances and potentially other appropriate programs sponsored by AHFC or other community partners. This statewide effort is seeing large successes in communities such as Juneau, Petersburg, Fairbanks, and Prince of Wales.

Funded by Federal Dollars

Alaska Housing developed its program with funding provided by U.S. Treasury for Emergency Rental Assistance.

Since it began in 2021, Alaska Housing Rent Relief has provided more than $260 million in rent and utility assistance to 26,222 households.