Ahtna offers supplemental financial assistance for career and training support items and fees such as childcare, union dues, licenses, haircuts, glasses, housing and transportation. Shareholders should first check with CRNA/CITC/MSTC/Village Councils as the funding is meant to supplement their programs. To learn more, contact Shareholder Enrichment at (907) 868-8250 (Tracy Parent – Anchorage), (907) 822-3476 (Starr Knighten – Glennallen) or email shenrichment@ahtna.net.
HOPE: Helping Our People Excel
We have helped many shareholders through the Career Assistance program and will be sharing their success stories in the Kanas. Ahtna recently supported Erika Empey with funding to earn her Hawaii State Esthetician License. Erika was hired at a luxury resort in Kona within weeks of graduating. Erika’s goal is to eventually start her own esthetician business, and we are proud to play a part in helping her reach her goals.
“I will be making a very decent income, and I am so excited to get started. All the paperwork and overall resort training took a couple weeks. It feels so amazing to be starting a career that is my passion and doesn’t feel like ‘work’. In addition, the resort has machines and products that we didn’t get to use in school, so I will be continuing to learn new modalities within the field of esthetics. Thank you again Tracy Parent, and to Ahtna and the board. I appreciate having the financial help to get me through a rough time with making my payments for my school, and just trying to stay afloat the last couple months of school.”
Other Assistance Resources
Shareholder Services often receives inquiries from shareholders about assistance sources for housing, clothing, food and finances that Ahtna does not cover. Below is a list of local assistance for these items.
- Housing: Alaska Housing Finance Corporation www.ahfc.us/publichousing/rental-programs/low-income-alaskans-renting-private-individuals
- Clothing: CITC www.citci.org and
CRNA www.crnative.org - Food: CITC and CRNA have programs in addition to local food banks
- Finances: Free training on personal finances is offered at Alaska Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo bank (opening of a checking account may be required).
- Homeless Outreach and Support: RurAL CAP provides outreach and services to homeless individuals and families. Community volunteers assist homeless people in obtaining food boxes, hot meals, showers and haircuts, onsite child care, substance abuse and mental health screenings, wheelchair repairs, housing applications, employment support and health screenings. https://ruralcap.org/client-services/housing/homeless-outreach/