Juneau Affordable Housing Fund Expression of Interest Survey Now Open to Developers

CBJ is soliciting Expressions of Interest from developers that want to utilize the Juneau Affordable Housing Fund to create affordable and middle-income housing opportunities.

Recently, the CBJ Assembly committed $2 million from the Fund to be used in a competitive funding round that will take place this fall.

The Juneau Affordable Housing Fund allows for-profit developers, non-profit organizations, public and regional housing authorities, and tribal governments to apply for grants or zero-interest loans to cover capital costs associated with the development of housing.

For more information, please complete the Expression of Interest survey here. The Round Two Expression of Interest Survey is due September 12, 2022. The full application and timeline for competition will be posted on September 12, 2022.

The complete program description and application guidelines are included in this email as a PDF attachment.

If you have specific questions about the Juneau Affordable Housing Fund, or the survey, please contact Joseph Meyers, Housing & Land Use Specialist at (907) 586-0753 ext. 4209 or [email protected].

August 30th, 2022|

Application for statewide homeowner assistance open now thru April 4

Homeowners in Juneau experiencing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for assistance through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Alaska Housing Homeowner Assistance. The application period opened today, March 14, and closes April 4 at 11:59 p.m. Apply now at AlaskaHousingRelief.org.

The program may be able to help with mortgage payments, property taxes and utilities, insurance premiums, and homeowner association dues. Homeowners must not exceed certain income limits, must occupy the property as their primary residence, and be able to demonstrate that financial hardships are directly related to circumstances associated with COVID-19.

AHFC will disperse funds on behalf of the applicant to their mortgage servicer, land contract holder, manufactured/mobile home lender, condominium/homeowners association, local taxing authority, and utility providers. A list of eligible expenses and use criteria is available on the program’s website.

Additional information is available by reviewing this fact sheet, reading these FAQs, or by contacting AHFC’s Call Center at 1-833-330-8290 toll free.

Funding for the Alaska Housing Homeowner Assistance comes from the U.S. Treasury. The State of Alaska received $50 million from the national Homeowner Assistance Fund, established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

March 14th, 2022|

Application for statewide homeowner assistance opens March 14; pre-register now

Homeowners in Alaska experiencing financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for assistance through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Alaska Housing Homeowner Assistance. The application period opens March 14 and closes April 4 at 11:59 p.m. Juneau homeowners can check their eligibility and pre-register now at AlaskaHousingRelief.org. Once registered, applicants will be automatically connected to an online eligibility checker to verify if they meet program requirements.

The program may be able to help with mortgage payments, property taxes and utilities, insurance premiums, and homeowner association dues. Homeowners must not exceed certain income limits, must occupy the property as their primary residence, and be able to demonstrate that financial hardships are directly related to circumstances associated with COVID-19.

AHFC will disperse federal funds directly, or through trusted business partners, on behalf of the applicant to their mortgage servicer, land contract holder, manufactured/mobile home lender, condominium/homeowners association, local taxing authority, and utility providers. A list of eligible expenses and use criteria is available on the program’s website.

To see if you qualify and to pre-register, go to AlaskaHousingRelief.org. Additional information is available by reviewing this fact sheet, reading these FAQs, or by contacting AHFC’s Call Center at 1-833-330-8290 toll free.

Funding for the Alaska Housing Homeowner Assistance comes from the U.S. Treasury. The State of Alaska received $50 million from the national Homeowner Assistance Fund, established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

March 2nd, 2022|

Planning Commission to hear proposal for cold weather emergency shelter Nov. 9

Resurrection Lutheran Church is proposing to operate a cold weather emergency shelter, which would be funded by the City and Borough of Juneau, at 740 W. 10th Street. The Planning Commission will review the proposal at its Regular Meeting November 9 at 7 p.m.

The cold weather emergency shelter would provide individuals experiencing homelessness an overflow shelter opportunity on nights 32 degrees and below. Resurrection Lutheran Church is proposing to run the shelter out of the church social hall. The space is approximately 2,000 square feet providing enough space for 28 sleeping areas in addition to two restrooms and a commercial kitchen.

The public is encouraged to provide feedback and submit written comments to [email protected] by 12 noon, November 8, or testify at the meeting. To join the November 9 meeting, go to https://juneau.zoom.us/j/82646379779 or call 1-346-248-7799 or 1-669-900-6833 or 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) and enter Webinar ID: 826 4637 9779.

For more information, contact the Community Development Department Planner Allison Eddins at [email protected] or 907-586-0753 ext. 4131.

October 29th, 2021|

Planning for cold weather emergency shelter is ongoing

The cold weather emergency shelter, funded by the City and Borough of Juneau, has been operated by several agencies for 5 years. Most recently, St. Vincent de Paul Juneau – in contract with CBJ since 2019 – has been running the shelter. During normal operations, the shelter provides individuals experiencing homelessness an overflow shelter opportunity on nights 32 degrees and below from November 15 to April 15. Last week, St. Vincent de Paul informed CBJ it wished to end its contract to run the cold weather emergency shelter. In an effort to provide the service this winter, CBJ is working with local shelter providers on another option. Resurrection Lutheran Church has offered to take over the contract and provide cold weather shelter services within its facilities at 740 West 10th St. this winter.

Resurrection Lutheran Church is in the process of submitting a conditional use permit application to the Planning Commission for a 28-bed shelter. The church would work in conjunction with other shelter operators in the community. As part of the conditional use permit process, the public has an opportunity to provide feedback to the Planning Commission when the application is reviewed. Resurrection will host informational meetings beforehand to hear concerns, suggestions for impact mitigation, and to answer questions.

Resurrection Lutheran Church Pastor Karen and Bradley Perkins have over 40 years of experience working with people experiencing homelessness, including operating the cold weather shelter when the program was run out of the old Public Safety building on W. 3rd Ave. and Whittier St.  With help from residents of the Flats, Resurrection Lutheran has been feeding people through its weekly food pantry for almost a decade. In conjunction with the RLC Food Pantry, the church has helped distribute warm clothing and toiletries, and has recently held vaccination clinics. The church has a long history of compassionate service to its neighbors downtown and the cold weather emergency shelter fits its mission well.

CBJ thanks St. Vincent de Paul Juneau for running the emergency cold weather shelter for the past two years, including during the pandemic. As part of the COVID-19 response, the contract with St. Vincent de Paul was amended multiple times to provide nightly shelter at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center from March 2020 to July 31, 2021. Over 508 continuous days, St. Vincent de Paul provided more than 21,000 bed nights to those in need, successfully implementing COVID mitigation policies that helped limit the effect of COVID-19 on this population.

For more information, contact Chief Housing Officer Scott Ciambor at 907-586-5240 ext. 4171 or [email protected].

October 15th, 2021|