While renters struggled with the financial impacts of COVID-19, the CDC put an eviction moratorium that was extended several times through the pandemic to financially aid renters and landlords who were struggling. As a result, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation aimed to prioritize getting emergency rental assistance payments out as quickly as possible. So far, $191.6 million has been paid out and nearly every qualified person who applied for Alaska Housing Rent Relief has had their past due rent and utilities paid, according to a recent press release.
According to Stacey Marz, administrative director of the Alaska Court System, eviction filing rates have remained low after the federal eviction moratorium ended and are less than half of what they were in 2019. The moratorium was ended by the U.S. Supreme Court on August 26, 2021. She said that there have been 85 eviction cases filed across the state. While, in the same time period in 2019, there were 182. She said that the court system was preparing to see an increase in cases after the end of the moratorium.
Bryan Butcher, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s CEO/Executive Director said:
“The federal funding allowed us to address critical needs of Alaskans experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Too often people forget about the cost of owning and maintaining properties. Landlords know too well about these financial obligations and when their tenants struggle, landlords do too.”
The AHFC estimates that most eligible applicants will continue to receive Alaska Housing Rent Relief through spring 2022.
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