Housing Study Shows Depth of Problem - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Housing Study Shows Depth of Problem

41 million dollars.

That's how much, authors of a study about housing in Minot say the city should request from the federal government.

The money would be used to help about one thousand families find housing they can afford.

And it would come from a new batch of CDBG funding that may soon be available.

Jennifer Thorgramson reports.

Rebuilding the valley during a population boom has caused Minot to stretch boarders in all directions.

Perhaps the newest 'landmark' in the Magic City is true to it's nickname --- streets springing up seemingly over night lined with hundreds of new housing opportunities.

But the eased-impact on the pocketbook has been slow to follow.

(Mac McLeod, Minot Homeless Coalition) "We probably have another two to three years before we start to see things declining. We're still up here."

Which is why the city of Minot used some of the Community Development Block Grant disaster recovery funds to do a study on affordable housing.

(Cindy Hemphill, Minot City Finance Director) "We wanted to have a good feel of what the specific issues are in Minot, what the home prices are, what the median income is in Minot and how many people are really having issues with affordable housing in Minot."

In Minot, over 11,900 people live in households that spend more than 30 percent of their monthly income for housing.

While housing is a growing pain in much of Western North Dakota, the housing study, conducted by CDM-Smith, identified the military base and the 'regional trade center' as unique... housing prices not only impact families, but the workforce.

According to the study, the average two bedroom apartment in Minot: $1,313 a month.

In the same study, the average household income was identified under $47,000.

(Laurie Randall, Minot Resident) "I think it's great that Minot is growing. Just the difference from when I moved here in 2002 and now, is remarkable. I just worry that we're not going to keep a lot of the businesses open because of the costs, the cost of rent. It's not working out for a lot of people."

(Mac McLeod, Minot Homeless Coalition) "We have people who are on fixed incomes who can't afford to pay a thousand dollars. It's tough for a lot of families out there and a lot of single people."

(Laurie Randall, Minot Resident) "We have three children, they're in school and to leave and come up with that cost for moving, it's really impossible to do."

Local rental management companies are still feeling the crunch.

(Mallory Westby, IRET Community Manager) "We have never had a waiting list. We are actually just starting one for three bedroom apartments. We're full. 100 percent."

But there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

(Mallory Westby, IRET Community Manager) "Supply and demand... The supply is catching up finally and we are seeing that already, our phone is not ringing quite as often."

CDM-Smith offered recommendations in the housing study: by investing $40 million dollars (Exact amounts on graphic) in infrastructure in strategic locations, nearly 1,000 households could see relief.

(Cindy Hemphill, Minot City Finance Director) "I can't really say what the plan is going to be but the city certainly can't ignore the fact that affordable housing is an issue."

There may not be a 'magic' solution, but the housing study may be a turn in the right direction.

In Minot, Jennifer Thorgramson, KX News.

The housing study was presented to Minot City Council last week.