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Housing‑first grantee and homelessness coalition urge housing finance agency oversight of homeless funds
Summary
Grand Forks Housing Authority and the North Dakota Coalition for the Homeless urged lawmakers to continue funding Permanent Supportive Housing grants in HB1012 and suggested homelessness funding be administered by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency rather than DHHS.
BISMARCK — Testimony from the Grand Forks Housing Authority and the North Dakota Coalition for the Homeless focused on the permanent supportive housing grant at LaGraven on First and the state’s approach to administering homelessness prevention funds.
Why it matters: Witnesses said housing‑first permanent supportive housing pairs housing with on‑site services and stabilizes tenants; they asked appropriators to support HB1012 funding tied to those grants and to consider routing homeless funding through the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) rather than the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
What witnesses said - Katie Jo (identified in testimony as a Grand Forks Housing Authority staff member) described LaGraven on First (a 42‑unit housing‑first project): the property has 42 one‑bedroom, furnished units with wraparound on‑site support services and 24/7 housing support staff, and the grantee uses occupational therapy as a support service in addition to case management. She testified in support of HB1012’s permanent supportive housing grant line.
- The North Dakota Coalition for the Homeless (testifier representing NDCHP) generally supported HB1012’s housing funding but urged redirecting long‑term homeless funding to the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, arguing that NDHFA has long experience administering housing grants and local competitive awards, coordinated entry and centralized provider relationships. The coalition cited prior emergency rental assistance administered by DHHS during COVID as necessary but argued long‑term funding is best run through housing finance structures.
Ending Both witnesses urged continued support for permanent supportive housing services in HB1012. The coalition recommended routing homelessness prevention and supportive‑services funding to NDHFA so local agencies with housing expertise can administer programs and align housing and services statewide.
