Lottery to offer Anchorage Housing Assistance nears opening at Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Public Housing Division

ANCHORAGE, AK – September 20, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s (AHFC) Public Housing Division is improving and opening its Housing Choice Voucher program. From Oct. 1-31, 2012, AHFC will open its Anchorage voucher program waitlist to individuals and families in need of housing and accept applications to be entered into a lottery.

This process will provide families seeking Housing Choice Voucher program assistance with straightforward information about the likelihood of receiving help within an expected timeframe – applicants will know where their randomly assigned number ranks in the lottery lineup.

“AHFC acknowledged there was a better way to operate by implementing a more effective and efficient system that streamlines the application process and provides assistance within a reasonable timeframe; for those in need, this offers a degree of certainty in their lives,” said Dan Fauske, AHFC CEO and executive director.

Participants in the Housing Choice Voucher program find their own housing; they pay 30 percent of their adjusted income in rent, and the remainder of the rental amount is paid by AHFC directly to the landlord.

Applications will be available beginning Oct. 1, 2012, at www.ahfc.us or in any of the AHFC’s Anchorage public housing locations during normal business hours. Completed applications will be accepted online or by postmarked mail. Applications will not be accepted in person, and no preference will be given to applications received earlier in the month.

Following collection of all applications, a computerized, randomized process will assign lottery numbers to all applicants who will then be notified of their unique lottery number. Those who are assigned a number greater than 2,500 will be notified they are not on the waitlist. The expected timeframe for notification is mid-Nov. 2012.

NOTE TO REPORTERS: A detailed explanation of the new process and income guidelines is on the AHFC website at www.ahfc.us, and media briefings will be scheduled throughout October to address reporters’ questions.

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) is a public corporation with a long history of providing laskans access to safe, quality and affordable housing through home financing programs, energy efficiency and weatherization programs, public housing and more.

Since 1986, AHFC has contributed $1.9 billion to the State of Alaska’s General Fund.

Contact:
Stacy Schubert
AHFC Government Relations & Public Affairs Director
(907) 301-4556
sschubert (at) ahfc (dot) us