Have you ever found yourself, a friend, or a family member in a situation that makes it difficult to pay the rent on time? Or maybe struggling with paying a utility bill?

Life happens. And sometimes not in a good way. Dealing with the unexpected such as a decrease in work hours or loss of income, an urgent medical need, an increase in expenses, providing financial help to a loved one, emergency travel – are all part of life, and can also threaten a family’s housing stability when the unexpected makes it difficult to pay the bills.

If you are an Anchorage resident experiencing a financial hardship which threatens your ability to pay the rent, and are not receiving assistance from another agency, the Anchorage Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) may be able to help.

Most of our emergency assistance calls related to housing are triaged by Alaska 2-1-1 and referred to the ADRC for assistance. Experienced Resource Specialists will then help guide a household to the resources that are the most appropriate for the situation.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a life event that threatens the ability to pay rent, dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-478-2221.

Or, if you would like to ask the ADRC about utility assistance, please contact us directly at 907-343-7770.

Sometimes life can be difficult to navigate. Give us a call and we will do our best to help get life back on track.

Submitted by Maureen Haggblom, Anchorage Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) program manager, and the Anchorage ADRC team.

Alaska’s Aging and Disability Resource centers connect seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers with long-term services and supports. For assistance and answers, call your regional ADRC toll-free at 1-855-565-2017. Or visit the Alaska Div. of Senior and Disabilities Services ADRC website at https://dhss.alaska.gov/dsds/pages/adrc.