The state has allocated $10 million of federal CARES Act funds to help pay one month of housing costs for Alaskans behind in their rent or mortgage because of income lost during the pandemic.
Stacey Barnes, spokesperson for the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, says that households in the Bethel area that have incomes of $45,000 or less would qualify. The application period begins at 7 a.m. on Monday, June 15 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 26. To apply, visit www.alaskahousingrelief.org. You can also call or text RELIEF to 833-440-0420. Recipients can receive up to $1,200 paid directly to their landlord or mortgage lender.
The state expects that the need is greater than the funds available, and recipients will be chosen through a lottery. That way everyone has an equal chance of receiving the funds, no matter when they apply during the application window.
People living in federally funded public housing are not eligible for the state program, but Barnes says that there is another federal program designed to help them. To find out more about that federal program, visit www.ahfc.us/tenants.
