2000 Best Practice Awards

Best Practice: HOME Opportunity Program

HOME Opportunity Program Assist Low-Income Homebuyers in Meeting Down Payment and Closing Costs

Anchorage. The HOME Opportunity Program (HOP) provides low-income homebuyers with forgivable, zero interest rate loans to assist them in meeting down payment and closing costs requirements, and makes loans affordable by buying down the first mortgage. HOP is administered by nonprofit organizations that respond to a Notice of Funding Availability issued by Alaska Housing Finance Corporation annually or bi-annually. This program delivery method achieves a variety of goals. It makes the program available in multiple locations in this geographically dispersed state, and builds the recognition and capacity of local nonprofit housing organizations. It encourages a diverse range of leveraged funds, catered to best serve the different populations, housing stock and organizational resources across the state. In addition, the program builds a statewide network of housing organizations experienced in homeownership assistance that can share knowledge and experience amongst one another. Three nonprofits, Cook Inlet Housing Authority, Fairbanks Neighborhood Housing Services, and Community Housing Development Organization operate HOP. Each organization brings additional resources to the table to most appropriately assist homebuyers in their service areas.

Contact: Carma Reed, Phone: (907) 330-8275
Tracking Number: 1822
Winning Category: Geographical

Best Practice: Construction Management Training & Technical Assistance

Construction Management Training & Technical Assistance Facilitates Construction of Community Buildings

Fairbanks. The Alaska Department of Community & Economic Development uses Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to contract with local governments throughout the State to enhance the quality of life for low-income residents by providing financial resources to communities for public facilities, planning, and special economic development activities. The program focuses on funding for public facilities and infrastructure development. The Construction Management Training and Technical Assistance component of the CDBG Program is a partnership utilizing monetary resources from the CDBG Program's 1% Technical Assistance component and management and training skills from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation's Energy department. Together they make training and assistance available to CDBG grant recipients to help them successfully construct cost effective, energy efficient, technically correct community buildings suitable for their anticipated occupant load and harsh environment. Step one of the process began in 1995 with the writing, publishing and implementation of the program’s Grant Recipient Construction Manual. Marketing the manual was the second step. In the fall of 1995 the program conducted workshops in key regional hub areas of the state where the manual was presented. The final step was to provide project specific construction management training and technical assistance to CDBG grant recipients. The Construction Management Training and Technical Assistance component of the CDBG Program has had a positive impact on those being served in that it demonstrates the following: effective use of partnerships among government agencies; creative problem solving; overcomes serious problems to program implementation and demonstrates efficiencies achieved.

Contact: Jo Cooper, Phone: (907) 452-4468
Tracking Number: 2402
Winning Category: Geographical and Program (Community Planning & Development)

Best Practice: Fairnet, Executive Estate’s Neighborhood Networks Center & the Department of Education – A Winning Team!

Effective Partnership Provides Neighborhood Network Center with Computer Access for Residents

Fairbanks. The owners of Executive Estates created the first Neighborhood Networks Center in the state of Alaska. In 1997, in partnership with Fairnet, Executive Estates Center opened its doors to the residents and community as a Public Access Site in response to welfare reform and the need to reach out to the community. Executive Estates Neighborhood Network Center hours of operation are from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Housing eight computers that are connected to the Internet, the center offers instructor-led classes in web page design, HTML language, Java Script, Unix, and Windows operating systems as well as independent study time. In 1999, the center received a Community Technology Center grant from the Department of Education. The grant helped put the concept of "bringing computer access to the people" one step further because the funding created a portable computer lab. Both the center and the portable lab compliment each other because residents in the community are invited to use both sites. Since its inception, this project has provided new technology and training to over 600 community residents including individuals of Alaska Natives, Hispanic, and African American heritage.

Contact: John Johnston, Phone: (907) 459-1020
Tracking number: 1920
Winning Category: Program (Housing - Multifamily)

Best Practice: Development of Marrulut Eniit (Grandma’s House) Assisted Living Facility

Assisted Living Facility in Remote Alaska Enables Elders to Stay Close to Family

Dillingham. The Bristol Bay Housing Authority, through a collaboration with the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Cordes Development of Sunset Beach, CA, Bristol Bay Health Corporation, and HUD, developed the Marrulut Eniit Assisted Living Facility, the first state-licensed assisted living facility in remote Alaska. It consists of 10 accessible and equipped housing units and a full-time manager’s apartment. Prior to the completion of this project, elders from the region were forced to leave their family and culture to live in assisted care facilities in Anchorage, Alaska. In the Yupic Eskimo and Aleut cultures, elders are the most important cultural resource. The completion of this facility enables the elders to remain in the local area and interact with family, youth and the greater community, and have quality living accommodations under the supervision of licensed caretakers 24 hours per day.

Contact: Dave McClure, Phone: (907) 842-5956
Tracking Number: 160
Winning Category: Program (Office of Native American Programs)

Content Archived: April 20, 2011