TEAMS COMPLETE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ACADEMY
BISMARCK, ND – June 2, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Six North Dakota teams recently attended a Supportive Housing Academy sponsored in part by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) and the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People (NDCHP). Led by the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the training focused on the development of permanent housing with services to prevent and end long-term homelessness.
The participants included Linda Everson of Badlands Human Services Center in Dickinson; Dwight Barden of Burleigh County Housing Authority in Bismarck; Sandra Leyland, Chris Johnson, Mark Paulson and Courtney Flemming of Fraser Limited in Fargo; Deb Gemelli of the Gladys Ray Emergency Shelter and Prairie Rose Seminole of the Native American Center Project, both of Fargo; Lana Landphere, Connie Philipenko, Carrie Welnel and Kerry Candrian of the Minot Housing Authority; and Dr. Cheryl Ann Kary, Gillard White, Avis Little Eagle, Jesi Shanley, Tanya White Mountain and Wenelle Clown of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Fort Yates.
“The training was an informative, insightful curriculum that gave us tools to help end chronic homelessness in our communities,” said Seminole, a training participant.
The final segment of the academy wrapped up on May 19 with the participants presenting their supportive housing project concepts to potential stakeholders.
“Studies show that providing stable housing as a platform to deliver the needed supportive services is the most cost-effective way to address the causes of long-term homelessness,” said Mike Anderson, NDHFA executive director.
The chronic or long-term homeless are individuals and families who have been without permanent housing for an extended period or who have been homeless multiple times typically because of substance abuse or mental health issues.
“Hundreds of North Dakotans are chronically homeless,” said Michael Carbone, NDCHP executive director. “With supportive housing, we can move this population out of expensive emergency services and into a stable environment where their underlying issues can be addressed.”
Five additional teams were sponsored by the South Dakota Housing Development Authority. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and Enterprise Community Partners also provided financial support for the academy.
The Industrial Commission of North Dakota, consisting of Governor Jack Dalrymple, as chairman, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, oversees the NDHFA.
