Telling Our Stories

Making a Difference Every Day for Alaskans

Alaska Housing employees spent the last year helping to improve the lives of Alaskans. In every corner of the state, their hard work, dedication, and innovation has made a difference in the communities they serve.

The work has spanned a wide spectrum of housing-related topics. That included new opportunities such as Alaska Housing Homeowner Assistance, which provided federal funds to assist homeowners financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The past year saw the development of Alaska Housing Stabilization and Recovery, an innovative new approach to assisting individuals facing homelessness. Both programs have relied on partnerships and collaboration with organizations to ensure their success.

Throughout the state our employees provided rental assistance that offered an opportunity for safe, quality, and affordable homes. They taught homebuyer education courses, giving individuals looking to buy a home valuable information about the process. They worked to keep mortgage loan programs updated and relevant so our partners could offer the best possible mortgage loans for people buying new homes or renovating their existing ones.

They maintained facilities, shared technology to make buildings more energy efficient, partnered with public and private entities to develop new housing options, and provided scholarships for educational opportunities as well as youth camp experiences.

Regardless of their roles or their job titles, Alaska Housing employees have made a positive impact on our state. We are grateful to them for all they do, each and every day.

Tackling Big Ideas to Help Alaskans

When Chelsea Arthur was looking for a new career challenge, she found that and more when she began working for Alaska Housing in January 2021.

One of her first assignments was helping shape Alaska Housing Rent Relief. She followed that with the development of Alaska Housing Stabilization and Recovery, an innovative new opportunity to help Alaskans facing homelessness.

“While the programs are different, they share something important that is truly impactful – almost surreal – knowing that our efforts, individually and collectively, are providing an avenue for safe housing,” Chelsea says.

In October 2022, Chelsea continued her career progression when she was named Operations and Development Manager at the Alaska Corporation for Affordable Housing (ACAH). A subsidiary of AHFC, the Alaska Corporation for Affordable Housing was created by the state legislature in 2011 to develop, manage, and operate affordable housing.

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Worth His Weight in Gold

When Derrick Chan earned recognition in 2017 for his contributions to Alaska through the Governor’s Denali Peak Performance Awards Program, the nomination found a unique way to measure the value he brought to AHFC’s planning department. It noted that Derrick had found new revenue streams, secured private capital and reduced operating costs that amounted his weight in gold – literally.

After three years in planning, Derrick moved to the finance department in 2017. His advice to new AHFC employees: “Work hard, have fun! You’re going to enjoy it here.”

Click to Learn More Michelle has managed AHFC’s public housing in Valdez for the past 15 years, which has given her insight into the needs of the community. As the only public housing employee in a small town, she gets to know her clients well and understands what is needed to assist them.

That drive to help others led her to join the local food bank, which furthered opportunities for collaboration between organizations to maximize resources.

“I like helping people,” Michelle says. “I’m drawn to that – meeting their basic needs.”

Meeting Community Needs in Valdez