Help with Bills in Alaska
The cost of living can be too expensive and unbearable due to the high costs of utility bills. This affects particularly single mothers who are low-income earners and it can eventually lead them to homelessness. To help single moms in managing these bills, several programs have been initiated to cover either the whole or a portion of the bill and this helps them to continue taking care of their family. Some of the organizations that offer these instrumental assistance programs are discussed in detail in this article.
Help with Electricity Bill
The Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) offers several social services programs to tribal members who require some assistance to avoid extreme financial difficulties. The assistance is in the form of financial assistance to qualifying families to assist in getting necessities such as utilities, rental payments, clothing, and food. The organization also offers culturally relevant programs, community development, advocacy, and education for the community. They aim to encourage self-determination, traditional values, and enhance protection. https://avcp.org/
Help with Water Bill
The Bering Straits Regional Housing Authority (BSRHA) provides a service of affordable weatherization of homes amongst other things such as affordable home rehabilitation and construction. The organization also conducts an emergency utility assistance program that covers the water and sewer, heat and electricity bill to avoid utility disconnection. The payment is directed to the vendor. Vendors include city government, and other fuel or utility vendors. To succeed in the application, a notice of disconnection is required. It should indicate that the vendor will no longer be providing the service until the debt is settled. The BSRHA provides this program to all regional Tribal members. https://www.bsrha.org/
The application to the emergency utility assistance program is given in the link below. https://fd073ef3-793b-40b2-9913-220ba261ec72.filesusr.com/ugd/5b5c80_33781bb6111b4a59abe948ecb785ecee.pdf
Help with Heating Bill
The Tanana Chiefs Conference is an organization that assists in paying a percentage of the expenses linked to home heating and essential weatherization for qualifying families and individuals. The services are offered each year during the winter months. The cooperation caters for a wide range of social service needs of Tribal members across the region. Some of the services and programs range from public safety, healthcare services, community transportation, tribal development services, and the supervision of natural resources. https://www.tananachiefs.org/
The link for the application to the heating assistance program provided by the cooperation is provided below. https://publicdocushare.tananachiefs.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5434/Energy%20Assistance%20Application%20FY20.pdf
Help with Healthcare and Medical Bill
The Maniilaq Health Services (MHS) offers single mothers an all-inclusive primary health care system that includes community health, nursing, and medical services at all their various locations around the state. Their aim to deliver comprehensive health care to the residents in various areas whilst encouraging fitness, prevention, and wellness, by incorporating local and holistic strategies and traditions. https://www.maniilaq.org/
Help with Food and Meals
The Bristol Bay Native Assosiaton runs a regional food bank together with the Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. (OSG) funds, donations, and other grant funds. They offer on-going as well as emergency food bank facilities to single-mom families in need. To qualify for the assistance, the applicant is required to align with the eligibility requirements stipulated by the Compact service area. The organization has a limited service area due to the food bank services and the OSG funds. https://bbna.com/
The application for the food bank program is provided below.
https://bbna.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-2021-Bristol-Bay-TEFAP-Application-Food-bank.pdf
Help with Clothing
Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage provides clothing items amongst other essentials such as toiletries. They provide particularly winter clothes to those in need. The clothing items collected as donations from people or businesses around the community. They emphasize on the donation of gently used items only in order to fully help the recipient. https://www.cssalaska.org/our-programs/brother-francis-shelter/
