The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation will pay up to three months rent for eligible Alaskans struggling financially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The program’s application period will be open from Sept. 13 to Oct. 3, which comes just a few weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ended the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s nationwide eviction moratorium. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation said that the program was already funded and approved before the moratorium expired, and that the dates only coincide incidentally.
A spokesperson for the program said that the rent could either be applied retroactively or toward future rent, and will be paid directly to landlords.
To qualify, you must make 80% or less of your region’s median income. That’s less than $45,520 for the Bethel Census Area, and less than $30,800 for the Kusilvak Census Area. You must also show proof of housing insecurity, and proof that at least one of your household members has suffered financially because of the coronavirus pandemic. You’re not eligible for the program if you are currently receiving Alaska Housing Rent Relief program funds, but you could still be if you’ve received them in the past. To check your eligibility, head to their website.
Over one-third of Alaskans applied for the program the last time it was offered. A spokesperson for the program said that if anyone is struggling with the application, they should call the program directly at 1-844-330-8290.
