Area cities to receive funding for housing units

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Dickinson, Belfield, Stanley and Watford City will receive funding for affordable housing units for law enforcement workers and others, as part of the first round of funding in the state’s Law Enforcement Pilot Program.

Western North Dakota law enforcement agencies cite increased housing costs and shortages as an issue in recruiting and retaining personnel, said Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. “If we can overcome the natural disasters, we’re able to handle the challenges of prosperity.”

LEPP is funded with the state’s approximate $3 million share of the Mortgage Servicing Settlement Fund and is targeted to communities in oil-impacted areas.

The announcement was made as part of a Monday groundbreaking ceremony in Dickinson for Patterson Heights Apartments, 700 Dakota Blvd. The ceremony was co-hosted by Beyond Shelter, Inc., developer of the project, and the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency.

Dickinson’s estimated $3.44 million 24-unit housing project received $744,000 in LEPP funds. Other funding sources for the project include $1.37 million from Beyond Shelter through North Dakota Housing Incentive Funds (HIF). Marathon Oil contributed $2.5 million to HIF, targeting a portion of its contribution to development in Dickinson.

Rents at the Patterson Heights Apartments will range from $575 to $1,063 per month, and will feature a mix of six one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom apartments. Eight of the 24 units will be set aside for law enforcement. Nineteen units will have rents low enough to be accessible to households using HUD rent vouchers.

Belfield received $208,000 to the Belfield Housing Authority for two units; Stanley got $357,500 to the Stanley Police Department for four units; Watford City received $514,056 to Bakken Housing Partners LLC for eight units.

Dickinson Mayor Dennis Johnson said the city’s population is expected to double in the next 10 years, and many more affordable housing units will be needed.

For the remaining $1.1 million left in LEPP funds to be distributed, a second funding round will focus on oil-impacted areas such as Williston and Crosby, officials said.

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