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Housing Assistance Services & Programs
What Does this page Contain?
In the Municipality of Anchorage, the Department of Neighborhoods (DoN) under the Office of Economic and Community Development, is administering many federal and state grants for low income families to meet their housing and other needs. However, there are also several other agencies that provide public or assisted housing assistance in Anchorage. This page describes the agencies that provide such housing in Anchorage.
It answers the following questions you may have: Who are the other housing providers in Anchorage that serve lower-income families and special needs populations? How does public and assisted housing fit into the overall housing picture in Anchorage? (Top)
Public and Assisted Housing Providers in Anchorage
The Community Development Division, as part of its mission of collaboration and leveraging, is committed to working with public and assisted housing providers to address housing needs. Several agencies provide public or assisted housing assistance within the Municipality of Anchorage. There are two public housing providers in the Municipality: the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC)and the Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA). Several additional agencies in the City also develop affordable housing for low and moderate-income individuals and persons with special needs. These agencies include Anchorage Neighborhood Housing Services, RuralCAP, Habitat for Humanity, and Anchorage Housing Initiatives. (Top)
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC)
The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s mission is to provide Alaskans access to safe, quality, affordable housing. It is the public housing agency for the State of Alaska. Created in 1971, it merged with the Alaska State Housing Authority in 1992. AHFC is a public corporation.
AHFC provides an array of housing resources to the state of Alaska, including, but not limited to public housing. Not only does it operate the State’s public housing and Project Based Section 8 developments, it also helps with the financing, development and sale of dwelling units through Low Income Housing Tax Credits, loans, and distribution of Federal and State housing grants. AHFC offers various home loan programs emphasizing housing for low- and moderate-income residents and performs various planning and housing program development functions for the State.
AHFC provides safe, decent, and affordable rental housing and access to supportive services to low-income Alaskans. AHFC provides rental housing and assistance to eligible low-income and very low-income Alaskans statewide through Federal funding. It owns and operates 1,705 low-income units in 14 communities across the state. It sets aside certain housing complexes exclusively for seniors and disabled. It administers the Federal Housing Choice Voucher and HOME Coupon Programs to provide rental subsidies to 2,720 families in the private sector. (Top)
Summary of AHFC Public Housing
Anyone whose Income Limits ( income does not exceed 80 percent of median income of the Municipality of Anchorage) is eligible to reside in public housing. However, AHFC is required to target 40 percent of all new admissions from families earning below 30 percent of median income. Specific income limits are defined by HUD and are based on family size and the community in which the unit is located. AHFC maintains a waitlist based on the date and time the application is submitted.
Applicants may qualify for and request a local preference for conditions such as displacement due to natural disaster, domestic violence, homelessness, a rent burden of 50 percent or more of income, families with a terminally ill member, working families, elderly or disabled families, and veterans. (Top)
HUD Project-Based Section 8 Contracts
The AHFC’s Alaska Contract Administrators unit for the HUD Project-Based Section 8 contracts are governed by an Annual Contributions Contract (ACC). The Contract Administrators unit will only monitor and enforce Housing Assistance Program (HAP) contracts for specific property owners under the AHFC ACC for compliance and administer HAP Contracts in accordance with HUD regulations and procedures. Effective October 1, 2001, AHFC serves as the Alaska Contract Administrator for the HUD Project-Based Section 8 contracts throughout Alaska.
Section 8 Properties in Anchorage
- 13th and Eagle Apartments (ANC)
- Chester Creek Estates
- Chester Park Estates
- Jewel Lake Villa I
- Jewel Lake Villa II
- KBL Apartments
- Kinnear Park Apartments
- McKay Villa Apartments
- Stephens Park Apartments
Source: Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (Top)
Assisted Housing in Anchorage
- Senior/Disabled Housing Chugach Manor
- Senior/Disabled Housing Chugach View
- Conventional Low Rent Loussac Manor
- Conventional Low Park View Manor
- Conventional Low Scattered Sites throughout City
- Section 8 New Alpine Terrace
- Section 8 New Chugach View
- Section 8 New Ptarmigan Park
Source: Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
Vacancies in AHFC-Owned Properties (Anchorage)
AHFC currently has several vacancies in one of its housing complexes, Alpine Terrace (8621 Peck Avenue). Alpine Terrace offers affordable apartments for rent ($700 per month), which includes all utilities. All units are furnished with washers, dryers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, self-cleaning ovens, drapes, carpet, and designated parking. (Top)
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Anchorage)
The Housing Choice Voucher Program provides eligible low-income Alaskans with a method of obtaining affordable housing. It helps families lease privately owned rental units from participating landlords. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Public Housing Division administers the voucher program in 11 communities throughout Alaska.
Families whose income is at or below 50 percent of the area median income are encouraged to apply. Income limits are set by HUD and are based on family size and the community where the family resides. Applicants may qualify for and request a local preference for conditions like displacement due to natural disaster, domestic violence, homelessness, a rent burden of 50 percent or more of income, families with a terminally ill member, working families, elderly or disabled families, and veterans.
To use the Housing Choice Voucher, a private rental market landlord must enter into an agreement with AHFC to receive the subsidy. The rent must be reasonable and within limits set by HUD (Fair Market Rents). The unit must also meet a Federal housing quality standards inspection. Landlords may use their own lease; however; AHFC recommends an initial lease term of one year. (Top)
Work INcentive (WIN) Vouchers:
The Work INcentive (WIN) Voucher is a special type of Housing Choice Voucher meant to help families get or retain a job. A family must have a critical housing need and satisfy one of three minimal requirements: 1) Presently receiving Alaska Temporary Assistance Payments; 2) received Alaska Temporary Assistance Payments benefits within the past two years; or 3) eligible for, but not receiving, Alaska Temporary Assistance Payments benefits. (Top)
Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA)Cook Inlet Housing Authority, a housing member of the CIRI family of nonprofits, is dedicated to insuring that the elderly, individuals, and families in the Cook Inlet region have access to quality housing. CIHA designs its programs to encourage the transition to self-sufficiency through home ownership or affordable rental housing.
Much of CIHA’s funding is a result of the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act. This national legislation is designed to meet the critical housing needs of Alaska Natives and American Indians. In this regard, CIHA’s challenge is to create neighborhoods and communities that foster and celebrate cultural diversity.
CIHA's programs include:
CIHA also collaborates with a number of important organizations in an effort to ensure that the community's needs are met. It promotes healthy lifestyles and healthy communities by supporting emergency housing assistance programs and projects such as the Brother Francis Shelter, McKinnell House, Homeward Bound, Cook Inlet Tribal Councils’ Emergency Housing Assistance Program and the local Boys and Girls Club.
Rental Housing - CIHA owns and operates rental housing for income-eligible elders and families in Anchorage, Kenai, Seldovia, and Ninilchik. It also offers rental assistance vouchers, and funds an emergency rental assistance program through Cook Inlet Tribal Council.
Home Ownership - CIHA operates a variety of programs designed to help people become homeowners. Besides financing low interest loans, CIHA offers a home buyer education course that provides tips for improving your credit, helps you identify costs associated with buying a home, and guides you to available programs that help lower interest rates and help save families money.
Home Revitalization - CIHA offers emergency repairs, accessibility improvements, and weatherization upgrades for income-eligible, elder, and disabled homeowners in the Anchorage area. In addition, CIHA has partnered with the The Department of Neighborhoods and is administering the Municipality's Homeowner Rehabilitation Program and Rental Rehabilitation Program.
The demographic profile of families on AHFC’s public housing and Section 8 voucher waiting lists has remained generally the same over the past year. However, the overall number and percentage of households with disabilities appear to be growing, particularly in areas currently outside of Anchorage. Many advocacy groups assert that housing for families with disabilities and the elderly is especially critical. Lack of capital investment and infrastructures often restricts the development of assisted living facilities or other affordable, accessible housing stock. As a result, AHFC will be proposing several options to address special needs populations, including pilot programs to test voucher mortgage subsidy and project based assistance for families with disabilities.
More related links...
Please click here to see a list of the proposed projects for low income families in Anchorage. Detailed information also can found for the following program links: CDBG, HOME, ESG, Renaissance Zone, and more...
To find out the services provided by the Department of Neighborhoods, following this link... You can also contact the staff members to get answers. (Top)
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