Step Extension

The Step Extension Process is designed to support families approaching the end of their Step term who are anticipated to experience a high shelter burden*. The extension combined with Jumpstart participation is meant to help families reach self-sufficiency.

Relief available

A maximum of two years:

  • Housing Choice Voucher: Subsidy equal to twenty (20) percent of the local payment standard.
  • Public Housing: Family pays eighty (80) percent of the unit’s contract rent.

Who is eligible

Year 1: The family must:

  1. Have received a Termination of Assistance notice to be eligible to apply; AND
  2. Be anticipated to have a shelter burden in excess of 50 percent of gross or adjusted monthly income at exit*; AND
  3. Be currently enrolled and active in Jumpstart or enroll at least one month prior to their assistance termination date.

Year 2: The family must:

  1. Have received a Termination of Assistance notice to be eligible to apply; AND
  2. Be anticipated to have a shelter burden in excess of 50 percent of gross or adjusted monthly income at exit*; AND
  3. Remain active in Jumpstart throughout the initial extension period and receive a Jumpstart program recommendation for the final year of extension

In addition, all families must:

  • Be in compliance with AHFC policies; AND
  • Submit a Step Extension Application with verification of all family members’ income and expenses prior to the deadline stated in the Termination of Assistance letter.

See the Step Extension Information handout for information on how the Step Extension Process works.

Questions? Call 833-958-8406 (907-330-8406 in Anchorage), or email us at phdinfo@ahfc.us

* AHFC’s shelter burden calculation

  • Housing Choice Voucher: Lesser of the gross rent of the unit (Contract Rent plus Utility Allowance) or the family’s applicable Payment Standard minus Alaska Housing subsidy divided by family’s monthly gross income or monthly adjusted income if considering allowances. Alaska Housing does not consider the amount the family chooses to pay when they rent a unit over the payment standard.
  • Public Housing: Family’s total family contribution (Tenant Rent plus Utility Allowance) divided by family’s monthly gross income or monthly adjusted income if considering allowances. If the family is over-housed by choice, Alaska Housing will calculate the shelter burden based on the family’s appropriate unit size.