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27 Ways to Get FREE Alaska Rent Assistance

27 Ways to Get FREE Alaska Rent Assistance

Housing is expensive but we’ve found many options for Alaska rent assistance! You may also be able to get help with your utilities and other expenses as well.

Statewide Alaska Rent Assistance

There are several statewide rental assistance programs, mostly administered by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC).

Alaska Housing Relief

Alaska Housing Relief was the state’s COVID-19 rent relief program. It closed on October 1, 2021 and is no longer accepting applications. However, Alaska Law Help encourages people who were not apple to apply before the deadline to use this appeal form to say that there were barriers that prevented you from completing your application.

Emergency Housing Vouchers

If you are homeless or fleeing from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking, then you may be able to receive emergency housing vouchers from AHFC. You must be referred through a local coordinated entry team, so call 211 for assistance.

Empowering Choice Housing Program

This program helps families who are displaced due to domestic violence or sexual assault. It is a housing choice voucher program, which means you must apply in advance. Once you receive your voucher, AHFC will help pay a portion of your rent.

General Relief Assistance

General Relief Assistance provides a one-time payment of up to $120 for emergency shelter, utility, food, clothing or burial costs. This program is administered by the Division of Public Assistance and you must submit a written application to the office. You can deliver your application via drop-off, email, fax or regular mail.

Housing Choice Vouchers

If your family earns 50% or less of the Area Median Income, then you may be eligible for Housing Choice Vouchers from AHFC. This program operates in 12 communities throughout Alaska, including Anchorage, Bethel, Cordova, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Mat-Su, Nome, Petersburg, Seward, Sitka, Soldotna, Valdez and Wrangell.

Moving Home Program

The Moving Home Program (MHP) provides rental assistance for those who are transitioning from homelessness or institutional settings.

In order to be eligible for this program, you must be eligible for community-based, long-term services from Medicaid waivers, Medicaid state plan options or state-funded services AND meet one of the following criteria:

  • You must meet the HUD definition of a disabled family OR
  • You must be an Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority beneficiary.

The HUD definition of a disabled family is a family where either the head of household, spouse, or sole member is a person with a disability.

Special Housing Choice Voucher Programs

Special Alaska rent assistance programs exist for Alaskans who are on parole or probation and for youth who are leaving foster care. Your household income must be 60% or less of the Area Median Income in order to qualify. Parolees and probationers can receive assistance for up to 24 months, whereas youth who have aged out of foster care can receive assistance for up to 36 months. The details on this Housing Choice Voucher program can be found here.

The Salvation Army

The Alaska Division of The Salvation Army appears to offer rent payment assistance. There are locations in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Haines, Homer, Kenai, Ketchikan, Klawock, Kodiak, Palmer and Sitka.

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)

VASH vouchers help veterans and their families maintain safe and stable housing. This program is operated by the VA, so you will need to contact the Alaska VA Healthcare System for details.

Nationwide Rental Assistance Programs

There are some programs that provide assistance with rent all over the United States! For even more ways to get help with your rent, check this list!

Local Alaska Rent Assistance

There are additional rental assistance programs that serve a more limited geographic area. These resources have been located using various resource directories and fact-checked as of the publication date of this article.

Aleut Region

Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association

The Department of Family and Community Development at APIA offers programs for the Aleut Region. Cash assistance is available to help eligible enrolled tribal members afford essential food, clothing and shelter. They also have emergency assistance and other programs that may be able to help with rent as well.

Anchorage

MOA / DHHS

This Alaska rent assistance program opens on the first of every month. If the first is on a weekend, the program opens the next business day. You will need to call 211 and receive a referral in order to apply for rental assistance. No assistance is offered during the month of October.

Power Center at Alaska Behavioral Health

According to the United Way, the Power Center offers rent payment assistance and utility payment assistance. I was unable to confirm this on their website but it may be worth giving the Power Center a call to see if they can help.

Shiloh Community Housing Inc.

This office may offer financial assistance when funds are available. Check their website for details.

Bethel

Orutsararmiut Native Council

Eligible Alaska Native and American Indians may be able to receive assistance from this General Assistance program. these funds can be used to help with rent, mortgages, food, clothing and basic necessary utilities. It takes 1-3 weeks to process an application. You must be a Bethel resident to qualify.

Bristol Bay Region

Bristol Bay Native Association

The Bristol Bay Native Association offers several assistance programs, including General Assistance that can be used for shelter costs. This is a tribal consortium that only serves Native people in the Bristol Bay area.

Fairbanks

Fairbanks Rescue Mission

The Fairbanks Rescue Mission offers a Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program that can assist with rent, security deposits and utilities. They can also provide assistance with obtaining VA benefits, child care services, transportation services and more.

Homer

South Peninsula Haven House

The Haven House provides limited rental assistance to those who are fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Juneau

Family Promise Juneau

Family Promise may be able to assist with Alaska rent assistance, as well as other services.

Kenai

Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Tribal members may be able to receive housing assistance from the Kenaitze Indian Tribe. They provide emergency housing, home rehabilitation programs, sanding, snowplowing, student housing and more.

Kodiak

Brother Francis Shelter

The Brother Francis Shelter in Kodiak may be able to assist with rent and utility payments. I was unable to confirm this independently but they are listed as resource in many directories.

Nome

Kerawak

Kerawak helps tribal members who are struggling make ends meet. They have many different types of assistance, including rent assistance, transportation to and from work and more!

Nome Community Centerasdfasdf

The Nome Community Center operates a food bank and also offers homelessness prevention services. It appears that they offer Alaska rent assistance as part of that program.

Palmer

Daybreak Incorporated

Daybreak Incorporated operates a Basic Housing Assistance Program (BHAP) that helps individuals and families obtain and maintain housing. They assist with eviction prevention, utilities and more.

Seldovia

Seldovia Village Tribe Housing Office

This office provides housing assistance for tribal and community members. Their Alaska rent assistance program may also assist with first month’s rent and/or security deposits for families or college students who need to move into a home or apartment. They also have one-time emergency assistance for families in danger of eviction. They can also help you navigate homeownership programs!

Soldotna

Kenai Peninsula Love In the Name of Christ

Love INC helps coordinate assistance from local churches. They may be able to assist you with rent and other needs.

Wasilla

Blood-N-Fire

Blood-n-Fire Ministry partners with six other area agencies to help prevent homelessness. In addition to Alaska rent assistance, they also offer assistance with utilities, heating fuel costs, gas cards, wood heat, food, clothing and more!

Family Promise Mat-Su

Family Promise Mat-Su provides many different supportive services, including rental assistance, transitional housing, transportation programs, shelters, graduate support services and so much more.

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.

Gloriella curtis

Monday 7th of November 2022

I am disabled and homeless need rent/low income assistance

Julia

Monday 10th of April 2023

@Renee, I've b en in same boat for a long time every month is a struggle and seemingly there does not seem to be help.ur right...it's broken

Renee

Monday 9th of January 2023

@Catherine Marucci, Hello Miss. Marucci. My name is Renee. For some reason I was not able to write my own comment so I just replied to one of your posting. I’m a single monther of an almost 9 year old that has called every program this is out there for anchorage residents. I have used all my months of ATAP, am owed over $20,000 in back child support, so I get no help there. I believe the system is broken. I need help paying rent, and I’ve found programs out there that will help after I hit rock bottom and loose everything. Places like Shilo will pay deposit and first months rent after I’m homeless but will not pay for just 1 month of rent. This costs them more money and there’s a lot of time and resources to move out and be homeless for a little while, just to get help moving into somewhere else. If you have any information for rental help please let me know cause I spent the whole month of December looking and hit a dead end every where. I have no family to help out either so I’m really struggling to keep a roof over my sons head. I appreciate your time reading this and your effort on this matter. Even if there’s nothing, like I’ve found, it’d be nice to know that there’s someone else out there that recognizes the system is broken and might have time to shed light on this matter.

Catherine Marucci

Tuesday 8th of November 2022

Hi Gloriella. Hopefully, one of these can help! https://lowincomerelief.com/how-to-get-help-if-youre-homeless/ https://lowincomerelief.com/low-income-housing-with-no-waiting-list/ https://lowincomerelief.com/rental-security-deposit-assistance/ https://lowincomerelief.com/rent-relief/

Dale

Thursday 15th of September 2022

I need help I am legally blind and homeless

Catherine Marucci

Thursday 15th of September 2022

Hi Dale. Here are the homeless services we have found. Hopefully, one of them can help! https://lowincomerelief.com/tag/homeless-services/ - Cat