BISMARCK – The Industrial Commission of North Dakota has approved the distribution of up to $450,000 in grant funds through the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s (NDHFA) Helping Housing Across North Dakota (Helping HAND) program.
“North Dakota Housing’s grant allocations help support the unmet needs of our state’s low-income population and provide real flexibility to the recipients in use of the program dollars,” said Gov. John Hoeven.
“With many of our rural communities relying heavily on existing housing stock, the most popular use of the program funding is rehabilitation,” said Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. “Grant recipients generally utilize the funds to weatherize and update properties to ensure they remain viable.”
“Approximately 300 units are rehabilitated or constructed each year utilizing Helping HAND money,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. “Used in conjunction with local resources, these grant dollars boost a community’s ability to address difficult housing situations.”
Distribution of the 2008 program dollars follows:
- Southeast ND Community Action Agency of Fargo, $74,696
- Community Action Program Region VII of Bismarck, $62,928
- Red River Valley Community Action Agency of Grand Forks, $44,413
- Community Action Opportunities, Inc. of Minot, $40,841
- Dakota Prairie Community Action Agency of Devils Lake, $35,600
- Community Action & Development Program, Inc. of Dickinson/Williston, $32,844
- Community Action Region VI of Jamestown, $28,678
- Three Affiliated Tribes of New Town, $25,000
- Trenton Indian Service Area of Trenton, $25,000
- Standing Rock/HIP Program of Fort Yates, $25,000
- Missouri Valley Habitat for Humanity of Bismarck, $6,667
- Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity of Fargo, $6,667
- Northern Lights Habitat for Humanity of Minot, $6,667
- Fergus Falls Area Habitat for Humanity of Wahpeton, $5,000
- Rebuilding Together of Bismarck/Mandan, $2,500
- Camp of the Cross/Dream Catchers of Garrison, $2,500
The remaining $25,000 of program dollars will be available on a pro-rata basis to Community Action Agencies and Tribal entities that have fully committed their initial allocation by July of 2008.Helping HAND is funded utilizing NDHFA earnings. Since 2000, the program has leveraged more than $10.6 million in additional funding which has resulted in the construction or rehabilitation of more than 2,700 housing units statewide. North Dakota Housing increased the grant allocation from $250,000 to $450,000 in 2007.
The program requires a nominal local match of 25 percent. The money cannot be used for general operating expenses, and it must be utilized within 12 months of grant notification. Community Action Agencies and Tribal grantees are encouraged to use funding to benefit the largest number of households.
For more information about Helping HAND, contact Nancy Rice at (701) 328-8080, (800) 292-8621, (800) 366-6888 (TTY) or info (at) ndhfa (dot) org.
The Industrial Commission of North Dakota, consisting of Governor John Hoeven, as chairman, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, oversees NDHFA.
