Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding to Sustain Affordable Rural Housing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp announced two federal grants totaling $140,000 to help rural communities modernize, repair, and improve safety and quality to make housing more affordable for rural North Dakotans.
“For too many rural families, particularly those with lower incomes, home repairs and updates are often out of reach,” said Heitkamp. “When badly needed maintenance goes unaddressed families can end up facing more costly repairs down the road, or risk living in unsafe conditions. North Dakota families deserve better – and this federal funding will help make sure folks in rural communities can make the repairs they need to preserve a safe place to call home.”
The federal funds are distributed as follows:
- Souris Basin Planning Council: $70,000 in federal funding to support the maintenance and repair of 6 affordable housing units.
- Turtle Mountain Housing Authority: $70,000 in federal funding to support the maintenance and repair of 20 affordable housing units.
The federal funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Housing Preservation Grants. These federal funds help to repair and improve affordable housing for low-income families in rural areas. The grants can be used to modernize units, remove or repairs health and safety hazards, and make homes more energy efficient.
Heitkamp has been a steadfast advocate for affordable housing in North Dakota, whether it’s pushing for more affordable housing in western North Dakota at the height of the energy boom or in Indian Country dealing with the chronic housing problems. In August, Heitkamp delivered the keynote address at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s first Great Plains regional Indian Housing conference that aimed to leverage public-private partnerships to provide long-term strategies that will boost housing opportunities across Indian Country.
