Alaska Renters Get Offer
To Register for Aid Funds
Alaska renters impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for up to 12 months of assistance to pay for their rent and/or utilities through a recently passed federal omnibus package.
Baranof Island Housing Authority, in partnership with Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, will provide a single reference and application portal for Sitka renters seeking more information and wishing to apply for the financial assistance.
Sitka residents can go to www.AlaskaHousingRelief.org to use an eligibility checker and register for the program. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. March 5.
“As the pandemic continues, more help is needed for those struggling to pay their monthly rent,’’ said Cliff Richter, BIHA’s executive director. ‘‘This new program will provide rent relief to a great number of Sitkans. Our partnership with AHFC simplifies the application process and allows residents to learn more and apply online at AlaskaHousingRelief.org from their phones, tablets and computers. If any local help is needed, just call BIHA at 747-5088 – our office staff is available and ready to assist.”
BIHA and other regional housing authorities, the Municipality of Anchorage and AHFC received separate federally funded awards that combine to total more than $200 million. Each entity independently decided to avoid confusion by partnering to provide residents with a single access point for assistance.
“Our partnership cuts through the red tape, leverages our individual connections and resources but ultimately brings peace of mind to those who have lost income and are seeking help,’’ said AHFC CEO/Executive Director Bryan Butcher. ‘‘They now have to look to a single place: AlaskaHousingRelief.org.”
The relief is available to renters who have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and meet area income criteria defined by the federal government, which in Sitka is an annual income of less than $71,280.
Eligibility requirements for spending the money are set by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a condition of the FY2021 Omnibus and COVID Relief and Response Act that was signed into law at the end of 2020. Mortgage relief is not an eligible expense.
Under Alaska Housing Rent Relief, up to 12 months of financial assistance can be provided to pay rent and/or utility expenses, including past due balances, with the possibility of extended
assistance for an additional three months. Payments will be directed to landlords, property managers and utilities.
Alaskans who previously received federally funded housing assistance are eligible to participate in this program. Additional information is available at www.AlaskaHousingRelief.org or by calling or texting the word “relief” to (833) 440-0420.
Free Conference Slated On
Dealing with Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will host a free virtual Alzheimer’s educational conference for Alaskans 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, as part of its national Educating America Tour.
The conference, which is free and open to everyone, will allow participants to learn from, and ask questions of, health, caregiving and legal experts. To register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour.
“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about. Whether Alzheimer’s is affecting your family, you’re a caregiver or just want to learn more, you can participate in this free virtual conference from the comfort of your home or office.”
For more information or to register, go to www.alzfdn.org/tour. Those who can’t participate in the virtual conference or have immediate questions about Alzheimer’s disease can connect with licensed social workers seven days a week through AFA’s National Toll-Free Helpline by calling 866-232-8484 or web chatting at www.alzfdn.org by clicking the blue-and-white chat icon in the right-hand corner of the page.
Program Seeks to
Prevent Diabetes
A 12-month diabetes prevention program offered via Zoom begins in March.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the program, which is offered by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. It is geared to individuals who are at risk of developing Type-2 diabetes.
One in three Americans has pre-diabetes, and excess weight is a key risk factor, according to the CDC.
Fairbanks Extension agent Leslie Shallcross said participants will be encouraged to lose 10 percent of their current weight to reduce the risk. She describes the program as a lifestyle change program in which participants get ideas and support from other participants and trained Extension lifestyle coaches. Participants will meet weekly for about 16 weeks and at least once monthly after that.
Cooperative Extension staff in Sitka, Fairbanks and Mat-Su will offer the course remotely, but participants can sign up for the session closest to where they live.
One-hour sessions in Sitka will meet 6 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning March 2.
Registration is available at http://bit.ly/diabetesprev. Prior to registering, potential participants must contact instructors to determine eligibility and discuss the program.
The Sitka instructor is Jasmine Shaw, 747-9440 or jdshaw2@alaska.edu.
The class fee of $100 includes a digital scale and program materials that will be mailed to participants. Discounts are offered to seniors 60 and older and others who request a scholarship.
‘Child Find’ Sets
Preschool Screening
Sitka Borough School District provides Child Find Preschool Screenings for children ages 3-5 at the Baranof Elementary School. An appointment is required for the Monday, March 8, screening. For more information, or to schedule one, parents should call 966-1316.
The Child Find program is provided without charge to families who live within school district boundaries.
The program identifies children who are having difficulty in their development, and provides special education services to them, when it is appropriate.
Parents may have concerns about their child’s development in the areas of hearing, vision, speech/language skills, motor skills, thinking skills or emotional or social skills.
A screening is a series of short tests and professional observations in various developmental areas. The screening is not enough to determine that a child is delayed, only signals whether further investigation into a child’s developmental progress is necessary, the school district said.
Screenings will be held at least once per quarter, and those dates will be publicized. Additional appointments at other times or locations may be scheduled as needed.
Chamber to Meet
Sitka Chamber will offer a segment in its winter speaker series noon Wednesday via Zoom.
Participants will hear about the BuyAlaska Program, an organization dedicated to promoting Alaska’s small businesses and encouraging shopping local first, and the Chamber’s upcoming #ShopSitkaLocal Restaurant Week event, March 1-7.
Katie Ashbaugh, the BuyAlaska program manager, will speak.
For more information and to register to log on, go to www.sitkachamber.com.
Online Dessert
Auction for SAFV
Sitkans Against Family Violence’s online dessert auction will run March 4 through 1 p.m. March 7.
The auction is being held in lieu of SAFV’s Family Fiesta fundraiser.
To support SAFV go to tinyurl.com/safvdessertauction to check out desserts and bid. New items will be added frequently.
Bids can be placed by credit card only, which is needed at the time the bid is placed. Bidders will be notified when they are outbid or if they win.
Winners are asked to pick up desserts at the shelter. Call 747-3370 for directions. Individuals unable to pick them up can request a delivery by leaving a message at 738-0161.
Those who can donate a dessert may go to tinyurl.com/safvdessertentry and submit details of the dessert by March 3.
Call 738-0161 with questions.
