Housing help available for people displaced by violence, assault

Alaska Family Services has a new tool at its disposal to help Mat-Su Valley residents displaced by domestic violence and sexual assault transition into housing.

The new Empowering Choice Housing Program is a referral-based assistance program expected to serve the families of up to 250 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Established through a partnership between Alaska Housing Finance Corp., the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, funding is from a $1.328 million appropriation in Gov. Sean Parnell’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget and a $1 million contribution from housing corporation’s federal Moving to Work voucher allocation.

“I appreciate the many who have worked hard to bring housing to vulnerable Alaskans,” Parnell says in a press release announcing the change. “Alaska’s goal is to eradicate the epidemic levels of domestic violence and sexual assault within a decade. We intend to foster freedom from fear that will pay dividends for future generations. This new housing alternative will help victims break free from abuse and help to replace despair with hope.”

The memorandum of understanding signed by the partner agencies is online at bit.ly/REc17q. Victims of violence and sexual assault seeking assistance should contact 746-4080 or 376-4000.