Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven hosted U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner in North Dakota this week to examine affordable housing initiatives and discuss policies aimed at meeting the state’s housing needs. The visit included tours of affordable housing developments in the Fargo area and a roundtable with stakeholders.

During the event, Hoeven highlighted efforts to use public-private partnerships to expand affordable housing across North Dakota. He pointed to projects like Monterey and Brighton Place, an 85-unit senior housing complex in West Fargo, which combined $2.7 million in federal funds with $15.8 million in private investment to replace outdated public housing.

Hoeven also discussed enhancements to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. As a cosponsor of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, he is working to increase LIHTC allocations to states by 12 percent, which is expected to help finance an additional 1.22 million affordable homes nationwide over the next decade.

The senator emphasized that affordable housing projects contribute to community development by offering diverse housing options and keeping living costs manageable. Redevelopment efforts, such as those at Lashkowitz Tower in Fargo, are intended to replace unworkable structures and promote economic growth.

Hoeven addressed opportunities for expanding homeownership through federal and state programs designed to lower costs for buyers. Of the 13,500 loans serviced by the North Dakota Housing Finance Authority (NDHFA), nearly half are backed by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), providing borrowers with access to lower interest rates. NDHFA and FHA also offer assistance for first-time homebuyers, including reduced down payments and closing costs.

“North Dakota’s population has grown rapidly over the past 20 years, resulting from a strong economy and affordable cost of living. In order to sustain this trend and support families’ quality of life, we’ve worked across the state to ensure enough housing is built to meet demand and make sure affordable options are available,” said Hoeven. “I appreciate Secretary Turner for visiting the state to learn about our efforts, hear the needs and priorities of North Dakotans and to work with us to make the best use of taxpayer dollars to address critical housing needs in our state. In particular, today’s discussion was an opportunity to strengthen the public-private partnerships that are driving the construction of affordable housing, while highlighting programs available to make home ownership more affordable.”

As a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has supported several federal programs that help developers attract private investment for affordable housing projects. These include $5.5 million from Community Development Block Grants for North Dakota in fiscal year 2024; $3.46 million from Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for fiscal year 2025; $3.44 million from Home Investment Partnerships Program funds for fiscal year 2024; $3.14 million from the Housing Trust Fund for fiscal year 2024; and Section 8 Vouchers providing rental assistance for more than 21,000 individuals in North Dakota—primarily seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children.