Rental assistance available locally

A recent study shows housing is among the highest priority needs cited by North Dakota residents, says Kathy Steinbach. As the Eddy County Housing Authority Director, Steinbach wants residents to know that help is available locally if they need it.

Community Action Partnership of North Dakota (CAPND) recently partnered with NDSU to complete a statewide needs assessment. A total of 3,458 residents were interviewed regarding the biggest issues they face, and to further inform the future of CAPND programs. The full survey results are available online at https://www.capnd.org/needsassessment/.

The last time such an assessment was conducted was 2006, when access to food was the highest priority need.

This year, housing rose to the top of the list. “Rental Assistance” was noted frequently among study participants. Steinbach says this is the very thing that local housing authorities are tasked with providing.

Locally Steinbach oversees the Housing Choice Voucher Program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and housing authorities nationwide. This program provides rental assistance to low-income residents by paying a portion of their rent and utilities with federal funds.

Residents typically apply for the program when they are in search of a place to live, and until recently, individuals had to re-apply for the program whenever they relocated to a new community. Now, vouchers are tied to the individual receiving assistance, allowing each individual the ability to take his or her voucher to a new county without needing to reapply. In Eddy County, the renter must remain in Eddy County for one year before they are eligible to take their voucher to a new location.

Help isn’t limited to individuals and families seeking housing. If your income has been adversely affected by COVID-19 or other factors, you may qualify for assistance paying rent and utilities for the home or apartment you currently occupy. Income and payment standards apply, which are detailed during the application process. For example, a family of four living in a three-bedroom dwelling must earn less than $41,800 per year, and the rent plus utilities for the property they rent must be no more than $1,024 per month.

Once an applicant is approved for assistance, local housing is granted authority to pay part of the rent on behalf of the tenant. The tenant pays 30% of his adjusted income towards rent and self-paid utilities, and the housing authority covers the remaining costs.

The applicant must undergo annual recertification, and the property is subject to initial and annual inspections to ensure it meets Housing Quality Safety Standards. Note that the program is designed for rental housing only, as Housing Choice Vouchers do not pay mortgage payments.

For more information about Housing Choice Vouchers and how the Eddy County Housing Authority can help ease the financial burden of housing, contact Steinbach at (701) 947-2434 ext. 2023 or email [email protected]. Her office is located available by appointment Monday-Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.