Deadline Nears for Rural Professional Housing Funding

Up to $500,000 available toward each development

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, August 11, 2020 – Small, rural communities must register to be considered for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Teacher, Health Professional, and Public Safety Housing program before Friday, August 21 at 5 p.m. Registration is necessary for access to the $2 million in funding made available by AHFC. Following registration, AHFC will provide project developers with training and support to submit proposals that will be evaluated objectively for criteria that includes community need, number of units to be developed/renovated, other funding and project costs, including consideration of renewable or efficient energy sources. To incentivize participation across the state, communities not previously funded are automatically awarded up to 10 points in the competitive review.

The program was developed in 2004 to address the shortage of safe, quality, and affordable housing in rural Alaska that has historically been an obstacle to attracting qualified professionals who work in education, healthcare and public safety. Non-profits, state or local government entities, tribal entities, health corporations, school districts and public safety entities are often the lead developers who best understand which housing solutions are right for their community.

“Housing is the most basic need across the state. In rural Alaska, overcrowding due to insufficient or a void of housing detrimentally impacts families. Those families are further challenged when communities struggle to recruit and retain teachers, public safety officers and nurses. AHFC is proud of our role that has included construction of nearly 500 units and we welcome all communities with interest to call us to learn more,” said AHFC CEO/Executive Director Bryan Butcher.

Last year, Kivalina, Nome, Brevig Mission, Shaktoolik and Nulato were recipients of the program funding. Since 2004, AHFC has funded construction and rehabilitation in 85 communities across Alaska with a total economic impact of more than $147 million.

Here’s how the two-step application process works:

1. Registration: Forms are available for download at https://www.ahfc.us/pros/homelessness/development-grants/thhp. Registration ends at 5:00 p.m. AKST, Friday, August 21, 2020.
2. Online application: The competitive process begins Tuesday, August 25, 2020 and ends at 5:00 p.m. AKST, Friday, November 13, 2020. More info at https://www.ahfc.us/pros/homelessness/development-grants/thhp.

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is a public corporation with a long history of providing Alaskans access to safe, quality and affordable housing through home financing programs, energy efficiency programs, public housing and more. Since 1986, AHFC has contributed more than $2.1 billion to the State of Alaska.