Mission & Values
Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA) was created in 1974 by the Alaska Legislature to insure that elders, individuals and families in the 45,168-square-mile area of Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) would have access to quality, affordable housing.
Our Mission
CIHA’s mission is to create housing opportunities that empower our people and build our community. The Authority’s housing programs are designed to encourage our clients' transition toward self-sufficiency, through home ownership or affordable rental housing.
CIHA employs more than 100 people who work as a team to offer four primary housing programs and operate more than 600 units of rental housing in Anchorage, Kenai, Seldovia and Ninilchik. We’re a dynamic group that continually strives to improve our products and services, and develop new and better ways to address not only housing needs in Anchorage, but the housing needs of all Alaskans.
Our Clients
CIHA serves a culturally diverse population living at or below 80% of the area median income. More than 30% of the entire population of Anchorage fits in this income demographic. And more than 50% of the area’s Native population falls under these same guidelines, making them eligible for many of CIHA’s programs.
Program Funding
CIHA receives much of its funding through the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), a national legislation designed to meet the critical housing needs of Alaska Natives and American Indians. Nearly 80% of CIHA clients are Alaska Native/American Indian and are served by programs primarily funded by NAHASDA.
Additional diversified funding sources — used especially in the development of our rental properties — allow CIHA to provide homes for a culturally diverse client base. 47% of the clients living in CIHA's rental properties are Alaska Native/American Indian, 37% are Caucasian, 7% are African-American, 5% are Asian and 3% are Hispanic. CIHA is committed to creating neighborhoods and communities that foster and celebrate cultural diversity.
Our Core Values
A set of key values — held not just by the organization as a whole, but by individual employees as well — help keep us focused on our mission.
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Innovation
- Diversity
- Leadership
- Stability
For Cook Inlet Housing Authority, there's more to providing affordable housing than simply constructing buildings and operating programs. We're committed to providing high quality, attractive and affordable housing opportunities that our clients can be proud of.
What We Do
Cook Inlet housing Authority's primary goal is to promote "Independence Through Housing" for our clients. Thus, we believe that quality housing will give our clients a solid foundation on which to further build the overall quality of their lives. To serve this goal, we provide rental housing, home ownership and home improvement opportunities as well as neighborhood revitalization activities and community partnerships.
Continuum of Services
In addition to providing direct service to clients, CIHA partners with other community organizations to insure that a full continuum of housing services are available to address client needs. CIHA provides assistance to the homeless, nearly-homeless and those in need of transitional housing through partnerships with Brother Francis Shelter, McKinnell House, The Ernie Turner Center and Homeward Bound, Dena A’Coy, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, The Municipality of Anchorage and Anchorage Neighborhood Housing Services. CIHA also supports a number of local youth programs including Covenant House Alaska.
