MISSION
NDHFA is a self-supporting and mission driven state agency dedicated to making housing affordable for all North Dakotans. We offer affordable home financing to low- to moderate-income families, and help to ensure the continued availability of suitable rental housing for households of modest means, while focusing on the overall housing needs of our state's growing communities.
VALUES
EMPOWER PEOPLE The American dream is to have a home, which creates personal wealth through homeownership or independence by obtaining safe and affordable rental housing.
IMPROVE LIVES Housing is the foundation of quality of life, enhancing individual and family social, environmental, financial and personal well-being.
INSPIRE SUCCESS Community vitality is dependent on a healthy housing stock for economic development to recruit talented individuals that have an invested interest in staying in the community.
FROM THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) is a self-supporting and mission-driven state agency dedicated to creating and sustaining decent, safe and affordable housing for all North Dakotans. We manage the risks within our role in the housing finance system by leveraging tools and resources that align with our mission. Whether by enabling wealth creation through homeownership or facilitating the availability of safe and affordable rental housing, NDHFA ensures access to and continuity across the state’s housing market.
As the demographics of North Dakota’s communities evolve, it is important to ensure that lower-wage, first-time, and/or minority borrowers who are generally less able to qualify for conventional mortgage products still have access to homeownership opportunities. Additionally, it is important to serve individuals and families with dignity as their housing needs change.
Through five core priorities NDHFA serves the citizens of North Dakota and our business partners.
- HOMEOWNERSHIP Robust financing system accomplished through public-private partnerships with local lenders, real estate agents, homebuilders, and community organizations. In-state, personalized loan servicing elevates citizen success.
- RENTAL HOUSING Regulatory oversight and administration of federal rental subsidies to project owners on behalf of low-income households, while maintaining compliance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development income, rent and habitability standards.
- GAP FINANCING Allocating federal and state dollars to projects that meet housing needs unique to each local community. Agency created and funded competitive grant and loan programs are focused on housing needs that cannot be addressed without supplemental funding.
- COLLABORATION Breaking down silos by working in partnership with local communities, state, tribal and federal entities, and non-profit and faith-based organizations to help alleviate housing shortages.
- HOMELESS/UNDERSERVED Bridging state, federal and local entities and resources to address short-term and chronic homelessness by focusing on youth, recidivism and aging in place, with the intent of providing upstream services to citizens in need.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
HOMEBUYER EDUCATION
More and more North Dakotans are getting educated about the homebuying process. In 2019, 355 households took NDHFA's online homebuyer education course. This is up 13 percent from 2018 and up 45 percent from 2017.
FIRSTHOME
NDHFA's FirstHome Program provides affordable mortgage loans to low-to moderate-income first-time buyers.
NORTH DAKOTA ROOTS
North Dakota Roots provides affordable mortgage loans to moderate-income buyers who have previously owned a home.
HOMEACCESS
Our HomeAccess Program provides affordable mortgage loans to moderate-income buyers who are or who have single parent, veteran, disabled or elderly household members. The highest program users are single parents at 79.6 percent.
MULTIFAMILY
GRAND OPENINGS
DACOTAH RIDGE APARTMENTS, DICKINSON
Dacotah Ridge is made up of an eight-plex that completed redevelopment in March 2018 and a 16-plex that had to be demolished due to structural issues and reconstructed. Construction wrapped on the second building in September 2019. The original project estimate was pegged at $4.16 million. The final cost was $6.18 million. Dacotah Ridge occupied primarily by elderly and disabled households. As part of the redevelopment, health and safety issues were mitigated, the buildings were brought up to current code, and elevators were installed.
EDWINTON PLACE, BISMARCK
Edwinton Place is a permanent supportive housing project that will provide 40 individuals who have experienced long-term homelessness with a stable home and offer services to address the issues that are the cause of their homelessness. This project uses the “Housing First” model, which provides immediate, permanent housing without pre-requisites like treatment or sobriety and then offering voluntary services to tenants.
GRACE GARDEN, WEST FARGO
Grace Garden has 30 apartments that will be fully furnished for approximate 75 individuals and families. Case management and services at the site to support these individuals and families who’ve experienced violence and homelessness. Residents have access to nursing care, an employment coach and other mentors to grow life skills. Grace Garden’s residents will come primarily from the YWCA emergency shelter and other referring agencies in the community. The project cost $7.1 million to construct.
HARPER HEIGHTS, WEST FARGO
Harper Heights is a four-story building, constructed on an infill lot that once served as an RV park. The property now offers 30 rental units to income-qualified households age 55 and older. Harper Heights amenities include heated indoor parking on the ground floor, secured entrances, an elevator, a community room with a kitchen, a fitness room and a media room. The downtown location offers easy access to public transit, retail and services.
HOMEFIELD 2, FARGO
HomeField 2 is a 39 unit apartment restricted to income-qualified households age 55 and older. Resident-led activities, congregate or home-delivered meals, and supportive services including transportation, case management, homemaker and personal care are all available to the property’s tenants. HomeField 2 provides a home for aging tenants to live safely with opportunities for social interaction and personal care services that keep them healthier and more independent.
THE EDGE ARTISTS FLATS, FARGO
The Edge provides 42 units in downtown Fargo. While you don’t have to be an artist to live at The Edge, the name refers to the property’s theme and design element, the tenants will be offered a creative outlet with plans by the developer to use the community room for art classes for children and adults alike. The property’s common areas serve as gallery space, and there is an art workspace that also functions as a multi-purpose room.
GROUNDBREAKINGS
- Century Cottages, Bismarck, Senior Housing
- Monterey and Brighton Place Apartments, West Fargo, Senior Housing
- Pure Development, Grand Forks, Mixed Use Housing
COMPLIANCE MONITORING
NDHFA is responsible for monitoring the long-term compliance of rental properties receiving tax credits, gap financing and project-based rental assistance. Compliance staff monitors state and federal compliance regulations by conducting annual file reviews and periodic on-site inspections of a percentage of housing units.
NDHFA’s compliance portfolio includes 9,981 units and seven state and federal compliance programs. State and federal programs require compliance oversight for 20 to 30 years. Programs administered include: the state’s Housing Incentive Fund; the Internal Revenue Service’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit program; and HUD’s Performance-Based Contract Administration, Moderate Rehabilitation Program and Affordable Housing Disposition Program. A portion of the units overseen were constructed or rehabilitated by leveraging multiple programs.
AGENCY FUNDED PROGRAMS
REHAB ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM (RAP)
Rehab Accessibility Program (RAP) offers NDHFA issued grant dollars for the renovation of properties occupied by lower-income North Dakotans with physical disabilities. A maximum of $4,000 may be awarded with a limit of one grant per single or multifamily property. A minimum 25 percent match is required.
HELPING HOUSING ACROSS NORTH DAKOTA (HELPING HAND)
Helping Housing Across North Dakota (Helping HAND) funding is available to non-profit organizations (by invitation only) to support the needs of lower-income households through grants targeted to single- and multifamily housing rehabilitation programs. NDHFA budgets $200,000 each fiscal year.
OPENING DOORS
Opening Doors was made possible by a $150,000 transfer from the North Dakota Department of Human Services, Medicaid Rebalancing Dollars. The program, launched in late September, can help up to 65 Medicaid-eligible households with poor credit, a history of evictions or a criminal record secure housing by providing landlords with coverage beyond a security deposit if a participant causes excessive damage or loss of revenue.
To receive assistance, eligible households must apply through a care coordinator who agrees to provide support services including helping participants find and secure housing, monitoring the success of their tenancy, and mediating any disputes with the landlord.
More than 15 organizations are participating in the program and 81 service providers have participated in agency-led training, and in-person landlord training have also been conducted to promote the program.
EMPLOYEE CULTURE
NDHFA employees enhance the agency’s culture through fun and interactive activities such as employee sponsored events, charitable contributions and volunteering
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
ADVISORY BOARD
- Ninetta Wandler, Chairman, Representative of Realtors, RE/Max Realty, Dickinson
- Lisa Rotvold, Vice Chairman, Representative of Homebuyer/Homeowner, Beyond Shelter, Inc., Fargo
- Jim Farnsworth, Representative of Manufactured Housing, Colonial Estates, Bismarck
- Joe Sheehan, Representative of Lenders, Benchmark Mortgage, Bismarck
- Kevin Hanson, Representative of Lenders, Gate City Bank, Fargo
- Larry Nygard, Representative of Builders, Roers Companies, Fargo