Alaska financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Alaska
If household costs are hard to manage, Alaska has programs that may help with food, home heating, housing, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the regional or local application route when a program is handled by a community provider.
Money Fit serves Alaska residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
The best starting point depends on whether the need involves a state benefit, a regional service, or immediate safety. Eligibility, funding, waiting lists, and application methods vary by program and location.
Apply for public benefits
Alaska Connect is the main state portal for SNAP, cash assistance, heating assistance, Senior Benefits, and several Medicaid-related applications.
Find nearby or regional help
Alaska 211 connects residents statewide with food, housing, utilities, transportation, healthcare, family services, and other local support.
Heating or housing help
Heating assistance is seasonal, while rental assistance, public housing, weatherization, and homelessness services depend on the community or regional provider.
Alaska's public-assistance routes differ by program. Alaska Connect can be used for many state benefits, while some Medicaid applicants are directed to HealthCare.gov and child care assistance uses AKCCIS. For help with DPA programs, call 800-478-7778 or use Alaska Relay at 711.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with Alaska SNAP or WIC when it fits the household. For food needed sooner, Food Bank of Alaska and Alaska 211 can help locate pantries, mobile distributions, and meal sites.
Alaska SNAP
SNAP provides food benefits through the Alaska Quest card to eligible households. Alaska has additional program rules for some rural and subsistence situations. Applications can be submitted through Alaska Connect or with help from a DPA office.
DPA Virtual Contact Center: 800-478-7778
Alaska WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Local clinics handle enrollment.
Food Bank of Alaska and local food programs
Food Bank of Alaska helps residents find free food pantries, mobile food distributions, and community meal sites. Alaska 211 can also connect residents with food resources anywhere in the state.
Housing, heating, and utility help
Alaska's heating and housing programs are handled through the Division of Public Assistance, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, regional providers, and local organizations. Waiting lists, seasonal application periods, and available funding can change.
Alaska Heating Assistance Program
Alaska's Heating Assistance Program may provide an annual benefit toward eligible home-heating costs. The 2026-2027 application is available now; the program begins issuing grants on the first working day in October, and non-crisis applications are accepted through April 30.
DPA Virtual Contact Center: 800-478-7778
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
AHFC manages public housing and voucher programs in participating Alaska communities. Open waiting lists differ by community and program, so check the current status before submitting an application.
AHFC: 907-338-6100 or 800-478-2432 toll-free in Alaska
Alaska Housing Locator
Search rental listings across Alaska by location, rent, bedroom count, accessibility, voucher acceptance, and other features. Contact the property directly to confirm availability, costs, eligibility, and whether a listing is current.
Alaska Weatherization Program
Eligible homeowners and renters may apply through the weatherization provider serving their area. Approved services are provided at no cost to qualified applicants, and renters or condominium residents may also apply.
For homelessness or an immediate risk of losing housing, call 211 or 800-478-2221, search Alaska 211, or review the AHFC homeless housing resources. Alaska Legal Services Corporation may also help when an eviction notice, deadline, or court case is involved.
Healthcare coverage, clinics, and medical travel
Alaska Medicaid, Denali KidCare, community health centers, and Medicaid transportation serve different needs. Application and authorization rules depend on age, income, pregnancy, disability, household circumstances, and the type or location of care.
Alaska Medicaid
Alaska Medicaid covers several eligibility groups, including children, pregnant people, families, adults, older adults, and people with qualifying disabilities. Income-based applicants are encouraged by the state to begin through HealthCare.gov; Alaska Connect is also used for age, disability, long-term care, and other public-assistance applications.
DPA help: 800-478-7778 | Alaska Relay: 711
Denali KidCare
Denali KidCare provides Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage for eligible children from birth through age 18 and pregnant people who meet income requirements.
Alaska Medicaid transportation
Enrolled Medicaid members may qualify for authorized transportation to medically necessary care. Travel outside the home community or outside Alaska generally requires a provider referral and prior authorization under program rules.
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and may use sliding fees based on income and family size.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Child care costs, a temporary loss of income, or an immediate basic-needs emergency can make it harder to stay employed, attend school, or keep the household stable. Alaska uses different application routes for each program.
Parents Achieving Self Sufficiency
Alaska's Child Care Assistance Program is known as PASS. The correct pathway depends on whether the family receives ATAP, recently left ATAP for work, applies based on income, or is caring for a child in protective services. AKCCIS is used for applications and licensed-provider searches.
Child Care Program Office: 888-268-4632
Alaska Temporary Assistance Program
ATAP provides temporary cash assistance and work services to eligible low-income families with children. Benefit amounts and participation requirements depend on household income, resources, shelter costs, family size, and work circumstances.
General Relief Assistance
General Relief Assistance is a last-resort state program for an immediate and specific need such as an eviction, utility shutoff, food, clothing, or essential burial costs when other resources or programs are not available.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local Alaska programs handle applications, eligibility review, available openings, and waiting lists.
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the ability to apply for other assistance.
Alaska unemployment insurance
Alaska's online system can be used to file a new claim, reopen a claim, request weekly benefits, check payment status, and manage direct deposit or debit-card information. Online services are available through myAlaska.
Alaska Job Center Network and AlaskaJobs
The Alaska Job Center Network provides job-search help, employment services, training information, veteran services, youth resources, and connections to local job centers. AlaskaJobs is the state's online labor-exchange system.
Job Center Network: 877-724-2539
Alaska Legal Services Corporation
Eligible Alaskans may be able to receive free help with civil legal issues involving housing, public benefits, consumer concerns, family safety, and other covered matters. Advice or representation is not guaranteed.
Statewide intake: 888-478-2572
Landlord and Tenant Helpline: 855-743-1001
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or internet service. Eligibility can be based on income or participation in programs such as SNAP or Medicaid. Residents on qualifying Tribal lands may receive an enhanced benefit.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Alaska's public-assistance and aging networks can help residents locate cash assistance, food and health programs, in-home support, transportation, caregiver resources, long-term services, assistive technology, and safety protections.
Alaska Senior Benefits Program
The Senior Benefits Program provides monthly cash assistance to eligible Alaska residents age 65 or older with low to moderate income. Payment levels and income limits can change with the state's annual guidelines.
DPA Virtual Contact Center: 800-478-7778
Adult Public Assistance
Adult Public Assistance provides cash support to eligible Alaskans with low income who are older adults or who have qualifying blindness or disabilities. Alaska Connect can be used to apply, renew, report changes, and upload documents.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
ADRC specialists help seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers find long-term services, in-home care, transportation, Medicare and Medicaid information, home modifications, assistive technology, and other regional resources.
Statewide ADRC line: 855-565-2017
Alaska Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services receives reports involving suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, abandonment, or financial exploitation of vulnerable adults who may be unable to protect themselves because of age, illness, or disability.
Adult Protective Services: 907-269-3666
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger or cannot stay safe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Alaska 211
Alaska 211 provides free, confidential statewide referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, work, family services, and other needs. Phone support is available during posted weekday hours, and the online database can be searched at any time.
Call: 211 or 800-478-2221
988 and Careline Alaska
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support with mental health, substance use, suicide, or emotional crisis concerns. Careline Alaska also provides statewide crisis support and can be reached directly.
Call or text: 988
Careline Alaska: 877-266-4357
Find an Alaska advocacy program
The Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault maintains a statewide map of local advocacy programs. Direct-service providers offer confidential, free, and voluntary support, and residents do not have to live in the provider's city to ask for help.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Text: START to 88788
Alaska and federal disaster assistance
Alaska Individual Assistance becomes available only for declared disasters and affected areas, with specific registration deadlines for each event. Check the state recovery page for currently open applications. Federal assistance may also be available after a presidential disaster declaration.
State IA registration when activated: 844-445-7131
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Disaster Distress Helpline: 800-985-5990
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, heating, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, or payday loans continue taking money from the rest of the budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Alaska residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, heating assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
