Housing Crisis: Where to turn
Housing is critical to aging-in-place. Often as seniors or others with disabilities have changes in their life, housing at times becomes at risk. The risk could be defined in many ways such as eviction, loss of resources, natural disaster, declining of health, victimization, etc. In Se Alaska, housing can be a challenge, and several services are available to help support an individual and their family at their time in need. Most services support keeping someone in housing as long as possible whenever possible. The following services offer support for housing:
St. Vincent De Paul of Juneau provides a family shelter, rental and utility assistance in the case of eviction or shut off and provides case management through Housing Navigators to support individuals and families seek a residence or maintain that residence. They are based in Juneau, however, provide support regionally to Se Alaska for some services. https://svdpjuneau.org/
Glory Hall is a short-term singles shelter located in Juneau Alaska. They provide three community meals per day seven days per week and overnight shelter space for men and women. https://juneaucathedralbvm.org/glory-hall
Alaska Housing Development Corporation – Gruening Park Apartments, small loan assistance for rental deposits. https://jedc.org/srec/provider/alaska-housing-development-corporationgruening-park-apartments/
Family Promise – Housing navigation and short-term family shelter through community wide churches. https://www.familypromisejuneau.org/
State of Alaska – Department of Public Assistance General Relief Assistance program, provides support for funding for shelter, food, and more in emergency situations. https://health.alaska.gov/en/services/general-relief-assistance/
State of Alaska Department of Public Assistance Heating Assistance Program will provide support by a one-time payment for oil or electrical services, Subsidized Rental Housing Utility Deposit, Crisis Assistance. Note, that the Village Corporation (s) may have the same program available locally. https://health.alaska.gov/en/services/division-of-public-assistance-services/heating-assistance/
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes – have emergency funding available through:
Elderly Emergency Assistance for tribally enrolled citizens over the age of 65 years. https://tlingitandhaida.gov/service/elderly-emergency-assistance/
General Assistance for eligible tribally enrolled Alaska Natives and American Indians for essential needs such as food, clothing, shelter and utilities. https://tlingitandhaida.gov/service/general-assistance/
Salvation Army – Social Services hours are available Thursday 4-6pm in Juneau other regional locations may have times that vary, support may be available for shelter, food insecurities, bill pay assistance, and employment assistance. https://juneau.salvationarmy.org/
Domestic Violence – For those who have experience domestic and or sexual violence (inclusively without judgement of sex):
AWARE offers several services and supports including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and support for permanent housing. Rural community members in Elfin Cove, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah, Klukwan, Pelican, Skagway, Tenakee, and Yakutat can access the emergency shelter by calling AWARE at 1-800-478-1090 or (907)586-1090. https://awareak.org/
Women in Safe Homes (WISH) – Provides a safe emergency shelter for survivors of domestic or sexual violence including working with the communities of Prince of Wales Island and Wrangell. WISH offers support for housing to program participants but also has support for community members for emergent needs. https://www.wishak.org/shelter-services
Sitkans Against Family Violence (SAFV) provides an emergency shelter, housing navigation, https://www.safv.org/
Helping Ourselves Prevent Emergencies (HOPE) Servicing Alaskans residing on Prince of Wales Island. https://www.hope4pow.org/
Building Respect and Valuing Everyone (BRAVE) Serving Alaskan residing in Wrangell, Alaska. https://www.facebook.com/BRAVEWrangell/
Eviction: Alaska Legal Services provides statewide legal support for the community. They can help individuals resolve housing-related legal matters, including disputes between landlords and tenants, eviction concerns, and property maintenance issues. They offer a Landlord and Tenant Helpline that is available Monday- Thursdays from 6-8PM, call 907-743-1000 in the Anchorage area or 855-743-1001 toll-free outside Anchorage. https://www.alsc-law.org/