ANCHORAGE, AK – May 13, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) will close the Anchorage Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waiting list, effective June 1, 2011. AHFC will continue to accept applications in person or by mail if postmarked by May 31, 2011. Other rental assistance programs in Anchorage, such as public housing, and the HCV program in other parts of Alaska will continue to remain open for applications.
“The decision to close the Anchorage HCV waiting list was reached after evaluating several factors that affect the pool of applicants for voucher assistance,” said Jim Gurke, AHFC Public Housing Division Director. “The most significant is that as of May 1, Anchorage had 4,587 applicants waiting for one of 2,420 allocated vouchers.”
“We believe that having the waiting list open gives people false hope that assistance is soon available. With the current number of applicants, it is no longer possible to estimate when voucher assistance might become available. Additionally, families may pass up alternative housing options while waiting for a voucher.”
For a variety of reasons, the turnover of existing vouchers has fallen well below historic rates. It’s estimated that it will take more than over three years to exhaust the current pool of Anchorage applicants.
Until May 31, 2011, HCV applications may be dropped off at the Anchorage Family Investment Center, located at 624 W. International Airport Road. A drop box is available at that location after the close of business.
Applications may also be mailed to AHFC, P.O. Box 241385, Anchorage, AK, 99524-1385 and must be postmarked by May 31, 2011.
Applicants may contact the office at 330-6100 for assistance completing the application. Applications may be picked up at local Anchorage offices or downloaded from the AHFC website at www.ahfc.us [Click on Rental Programs; Application & Instructions]
AHFC is a self-supporting public corporation with offices in 16 communities statewide. It provides statewide financing for multi-family complexes, congregate facilities, and single-family homes, with special loan options for low- to moderate-income borrowers, veterans, teachers, health care professionals, and those living in rural areas of the state.
AHFC also provides energy and weatherization programs, low-income rental assistance in 17 communities, and special programs for the homeless and those seeking to become self-sufficient. AHFC has contributed more than $1.9 billion to Alaska’s state budget revenues through cash transfers, capital projects and debt-service payments.
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For more information, contact: Sherrie Simmonds, Corporate Communications Officer, 907 330 8447, ssimmond (at) ahfc.state.ak (dot) us
Contact:
Sherrie Simmonds
1-907-330-8447
1-800-478-2432
