Economic expansion and social well-being depend on affordable housing North Dakota is a vibrant patchwork from the western oil fields to the eastern sugar beet fields; from urban streets to dusty prairie roads; from a booming economy to rich heritage; and is made up of homes of every shape, size, age, condition, tenure and type. Building the future of North Dakota is like building a house – it takes planning, hard work and has many different components. There are numerous factors working together to drive economic development and growth in the state, and housing is a vital piece of that puzzle. Communities can’t thrive without safe, decent and affordable housing options for all citizens throughout the state. Making housing affordable for all North Dakotans has been the mission of many, but recent statistics available on the state’s housing stock suggest issues and challenges for households and communities. North Dakota’s communities face a myriad of housing challenges which will take forward-thinking and a commitment at all levels to solve. The housing stock in many communities is aging. Housing, both single- and multi-family, is in need of rehabilitation or replacement in many communities. The situation is further complicated in rural areas by a valuation gap for new construction—the cost to build a new home is greater than its worth upon completion. Affordable housing development in rural communities often relies upon government subsidies and assistance from non-profit organizations to be viable, safe and decent for North Dakotans.

North Dakota Housing Finance Agency
The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) is a public financial institution dedicated to making housing affordable for all North Dakotans. The Agency facilitates affordable mortgage financing, assures the continued availability of low-income rental housing, and seeks to provide for the state’s changing housing needs.

NDHFA helps North Dakotans achieve successful homeownership through homebuyer education, downpayment and closing cost assistance, and home mortgage loans. Making housing affordable for all North Dakotans is the mission of NDHFA. In addition to offering a variety of affordable mortgage options, the Agency ensures the continued availability of suitable rental housing for low-income households and focuses on providing for the housing needs of rural communities.

North Dakota Community Action Association
Established in 1976, the North Dakota Community Action Association is a private non-profit statewide membership organization representing North Dakota’s seven Community Action Agencies. By combing resources—local, state, private and federal, agencies enable low-income people to secure the opportunities they need to obtain and maintain self sufficiency.

Community Action Agencies were originally established under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America’s War on Poverty. Today, the seven Community Action Agencies in the state provide essential services to every region and all 53 counties. Community Action Agencies are governed by uniquely structured boards of directors whose members derive from diverse segments of the community—low-income, private, and public sectors.

Dakota Center for Independent Living
The Dakota Center for Independent Living (DCIL) believes in self-determination for people with disabilities and creates the environment in which it is achieved. DCIL promotes full inclusion for people with disabilities by advocating for the reduction of architectural, social and attitudinal barriers.

DCIL was established in 1980 and received its 501 c 3 status in 1993. DCIL is a consumer controlled, community based, non-profit agency assisting people with disabilities live independently in their community. Outreach services are provided in eighteen South Central and South West N.D. counties, Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and the southern part of the Fort Berthold Reservation.

Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance
The Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance (EDHA) was formed in 1996 as a loose affiliation of non-profit organizations interested in increasing the availability of affordable housing in their communities. In 1998, EDHA incorporated as a non-profit corporation and was recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization, by the State of North Dakota as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), and became involved in its first affordable housing development.

EDHA reacts to local needs with decisions that are made locally rather than at a state or national level. The focus of EDHA is to provide flexible short term financing for the development of affordable housing particularly in rural underserved areas. Since its inception EDHA has participated in the development of projects of which 90% are affordable to lower income households.

Partners In Housing
The Partners in Housing (PPiH) program was created in 1989 by the Presentation Sisters to address unmet housing needs in the Fargo, North Dakota areas. After a survey of the area, they found that families and individuals experiencing a crisis were either losing their housing or became at risk of losing it. While there were some emergency assistance programs available these households may not have been eligible, had already used it or the assistance program was out of funds.

PPiH also provides more than just a one-time emergency assistance. During the interview at the Presentation Center, if it becomes apparent that a family would require more than a one time assistance, a second meeting in their home is set up. Subsequent visits are driven by the client's goals and progress toward those goals.

North Dakota USDA Rural Development
The USDA Rural Development mission goal is to provide or partner with others in providing the financial and technical resources to assist North Dakota private citizens, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, communities, cities and counties in assuring that each rural community has what it takes to improve the quality of life and be successful.

The overall mission of USDA Rural Development is to improve the quality of life for rural Americans. Working closely with profit and non-profit sectors, along with state, tribal, and local governments, USDA Rural Development changes the way in which the Federal government does business. Ensuring rural citizens can participate fully in the global economy and by providing assistance programs to rural Americans for a stronger economy to be built and improving the quality of life for all.

North Dakota American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
In February of 2009, President Obama and the U.S. Congress signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to jumpstart the economy, save and create jobs, provide a helping hand to people affected by the recession, stabilize state and local budgets, and make investments that will provide long-term economic benefits.

While the funds won't solve all of the challenges facing North Dakota and the nation, they are critical to getting North Dakota back on track. The funds will help rebuild our infrastructure, grow the economy, stabilize the budget and get North Dakotans back to work. The Recovery Act is designed to stimulate the economy through measures that, among other things, create jobs, preserve and improve access to affordable health care, and protect those in greatest need.

North Dakota Manufactured Housing Association
The North Dakota Manufactured Housing Association (NDMHA) is a state trade association representing all segments of the manufactured housing industry, including manufactured home builders; suppliers; retailers; community developers, owners, and managers; insurers and financial services companies.

Located in Bismarck, ND, NDMHA works to promote fair laws and regulations, increase and improve financing options, promote a positive image of manufactured housing, provide technical analysis and counsel, and remove zoning barriers to the use of manufactured housing. Through these various programs and activities, NDMHA promotes the use of manufactured housing so that more Americans will be able to realize their dream of homeownership.

North Dakota Housing Authorities
North Dakota housing programs are designed to create solutions to abandoned, substandard and unaffordable housing by assisting in the development of housing for low and moderate income individuals and families. These home programs are formed to assist in creating and maintaining affordable housing grants, funds for affordable housing assistance and promoting economic opportunity with for North Dakota homeowners and home buyers.

Housing programs provide quality, affordable housing opportunities and promote independence for lower income families, elderly and persons with disabilities. Community downpayment assistance funds are provided to low and moderate income residents to provide annual grants on a formula basis to entitlement cities and counties to assist in developing communities. Burleigh Housing Authority, Grand Forks Housing Authority, Minot Housing Authority.

CommunityWorks North Dakota
CommunityWorks North Dakota has a mission of providing affordable housing and development opportunities to revitalize communities and improve the standard of living and quality of life for North Dakota residents. CommunityWorks benefits communities in many ways by providing affordable housing opportunities for individuals.

CommunityWorks North Dakota was founded in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of addressing housing issues, particularly for low-income and moderate-income individuals. By partnering with local lenders, government officials and entities, communities and others, CommunityWorks provides much-needed assistance and development to many families and communities across the state.

Housing Alliance of North Dakota
The Housing Alliance of North Dakota’s vision is for North Dakota to become a state where everyone has access to a decent, safe, affordable, accessible place to live. The Housing Alliance of North Dakota (HAND) is independent and private in its operation, allowing it to work in a nonpartisan manner to achieve its goals.

Addressing both rural and urban communities, HAND has a statewide network of supportive relationships for local grassroots focus with a wide variation of diversity. HAND is open to address unmet housing needs and is flexible to the changing needs and challenges of affordable housing in North Dakota.

Department of Community Services
The Community Development activities within the DCS center around the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, the HOME Program and the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) Program. Community Development programs provide funds for a wide range of activities that are focused on improving the quality of life of North Dakota residents. The CDBG Program, delivered through the eight Regional Councils, can be used to develop housing, infrastructure and economic development projects. The HOME Program, delivered through the seven Community Action Agencies, can be used for housing development and housing related needs. The ESG Program provides funds to homeless shelters throughout the state. Both the CDBG and HOME programs primarily provide financial assistance to low and moderate income people.

Lutheran Social Services Housing
Lutheran Social Services Housing (LSSH) was founded in 2008 as a non-profit subsidiary of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota. LSSH's purpose is to help communities succeed by providing housing and housing related services by working with communities to address housing needs, either through the construction of new housing or preservation.

Rural communities across the state are awakening to the fact that housing development is an integral part of community sustainability and economic development efforts. Because housing demand has far outstripped housing supply in most western North Dakota communities, many individuals and families are forced to live in marginal conditions, sometimes even becoming homeless while waiting for suitable housing to become available.

North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People
The North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People, Inc.(NDCHP) was formed in 1989 to work on the concerns of homelessness in the state. The Coalition has been engaged in the work of advocacy, education, data collection, and fundraising establishing a statewide Continuum of Care plan for addressing homelessness.

Today the Coalition is a dynamic organization of service providers. It draws on the strength and experience of its 60 + member organizations, as well as the experience and commitment of regional homeless coalitions and other stakeholders, to develop a better quality of life in North Dakota for homeless individuals and families. The Coalition believes that housing and other basic human needs should be within everyone's reach in an affordable and dignified manner.