Program areas at Helping Alaska
The clearinghouse is the foundation of Helping Alaska, formerly known as love inc. Volunteers in the clearinghouse screen and verify requests for help and refers the request to a local church ministry, church volunteer, or community agency (to avoid service duplication). Through referrals, volunteers are given the opportunity to meet the practical needs of the poor and needy in the fairbanks north star borough without regard to race, creed, or religion.
Families go through hardships, and Helping them through these times is important. Through grant agreements with the Alaska housing finance corporation (ahfc), grant funds have been obtained in order to help the community through housing assistance. With these funds, the program is able to provide assistance to community members with areas of issue such as rental payments, mortgage payments, and utilities.
Lack of affordable housing causes many families to couch surf and live on the streets. Loving families is our solution to family homelessness in the tanana valley. Loving families is a rotating shelter model with over a dozen host congregations. Each week the program participants are cared for by volunteers at local churches. These families are provided a safe loving environment to safely raise their children while having their basic needs provided for.
Other program services include programs like the furniture bank and community helpline. The furniture bank is a program that receives gently used, donated furniture, and then offers it back to the community through discounted sales or a voucher program for members in the community in need. The community helpline provides a an outlet for the community in times of hardship or when needing assistance, and is aimed at alleviating stress and ensuring the community knows they are not alone.