2023-10-16 07:03:58
More than 65% of North Dakotans say housing is the state’s biggest overall need. That’s according to new community-level survey data.
The findings are from the latest needs assessment issued by Community Action Partnership of North Dakotawhich gathered feedback from more than 3,000 residents.
For low-income respondents, rental assistance is the biggest priority. CAP ND’s Executive Director Andrea Olson said that’s not surprising because it mirrors the calls for assistance at their regional offices.
But she said respondents, regardless of income, agree that housing overall tops all other categories. She said it underscores the scope of the problem and the obstacles families are facing.
“We know that there’s North Dakotans who are in need,” said Olson. “We know that these are folks who are often gainfully employed and just still can’t make the ends meet.”
An interim legislative committee is studying housing barriers, and the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reports nearly 40% of renters are spending at least a third of their income on housing.
With these details coming together, and the state’s pandemic-related ND Rent Help program due to expire next year, Olson said it would be disappointing to not see a long-term solution.
Beyond housing, access to food has moved up to second on the needs list for low-income North Dakotans. Inflation has cooled, but Olson said it’s clear households are finding it difficult to get everything they need.
“A grocery cart that used to cost $150 is now $200,” said Olson.
Meanwhile, non-low-income respondents cited mental health services as their top specific need. Provider shortages, especially in rural areas, have been well documented in light of the pandemic.
The needs assessment includes statewide and regional data, with project leaders saying the results can inform all levels of government when responding to these issues.
Disclosure: Community Action Partnership of North Dakota contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy & Priorities, Health Issues, Housing/Homelessness, Hunger/Food/Nutrition. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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A lengthy proposal aimed at reducing crime recently unveiled by Kentucky lawmakers has housing advocacy groups concerned about the impact on the homeless.
The Safer Kentucky Actcurrently in draft stages, is expected to be introduced when the legislature convenes next year. The proposal includes a statewide camping ban, with penalties of up to $5,000 and one month in jail, and funding penalties to any jurisdiction refusing to enforce the ban.
Tish Shupe, housing director for Clark County Community Services, said organizations who provide services to the homeless are deeply concerned the measures could make their work more difficult, and are shocked at the lack of input from people working on the ground.
“We’ve got a lot of good smart people in Kentucky working on the issues with mental health and homelessness,” Shupe pointed out. “It’s just kind of disappointing that the Legislature didn’t address those two issues more directly with those people.”
Supporters, including Rep. Jared Bauman, R-Louisville, the bill’s lead sponsor, said the legislation will reduce the number of homicides and keep communities safer. The proposal also includes increased penalties for attempted murder and a three-strikes law for persistent felony offenders.
Shupe countered being arrested and incarcerated is not going to do anything to help stabilize individuals with mental health issues and substance-use issues, which likely contributed to their being homeless, nor make communities safer.
“Having a policeman come up to them, and then just hold them back to the car and the handcuffs and throw them in jail, well, that’s only gonna make that issue worse,” Shupe contended. “If I’ve been working with anybody, and they’ve actually made some progress, well, that just sets them back.”
The measure is calling for the creation of “homeless outreach teams” which would require law enforcement to force unhoused people into state-run encampments under threat of arrest.
A 2020 study found criminalizing homeless people limits their access to services, housing and jobs; while fines and time spent in jail create further barriers to accessing stable housing.
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It’s been ten years since Fort Lyon, a 19th century military post in rural Bent county, opened its doors to people experiencing homelessness with substance use disorders.
Randy Stotts hit bottom living on the streets in Denver, and after years of avoiding offers of assistance, agreed to participate in the recovery-oriented transitional housing program.
He said the program offers a wide range of tools to get to the root causes of addiction, and make it out safe and sound on the other side.
“And they give you all these different groups that you can go to,” said Stotts. “Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Breathing Under Water, Sound Board, Red Road to Wellbriety, a chapel. They give you all these options to choose from.”
The program – which combines housing with peer support, and educational, vocational, and employment services – has served over 2,200 people in its first decade.
It costs nearly $46,000 per person per year to cover costs associated with chronic homelessness, according to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, which launched the program.
The cost per person at Fort Lyon is just under $19,000.
An onsite health center provides physical and mental healthcare, and residents help out with food services, facilities and grounds maintenance, and housekeeping.
Stotts said the Fort Lyon community supported him throughout his recovery, and then a case manager helped him find longterm housing.
“After some recovery time – they want to make sure that you have some recovery – because if you don’t have recovery, even getting new housing, more than likely you’re going to lose the housing again,” said Stotts. “If you haven’t changed anything, then nothing’s changed.”
Now a Fort Lyon reintegration specialist, Stotts urged anyone ready to take those first steps toward recovery – and to start feeling better about themselves – to connect with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
“There’s help available to people if they’re just open to it, if they’re willing to try it and if they’re honest about it,” said Stotts. “You know if a man like me can get off the streets, get sober and have the life I have today, I truly believe in my heart that anybody can.”
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Estimates show Minnesota is short 100,000 housing units for low-income populations. To help meet demand, some poverty-fighting offices are playing a role in getting more projects off the ground.
The housing estimate is from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.
Jenny Larson, executive director of Three Rivers Community Action in southeastern Minnesota, said their needs assessments consistently have housing at the top of the list. Her staff has teamed up with the city of Northfield and other partners on a new set of townhomes. With many people still priced out of the rental market, she pointed out the project aims to give low-to-moderate income applicants a much-needed option.
“This project really is meant to provide more family units that have price points — rent levels — that people can afford,” Larson explained.
Larson added the 32 new townhomes were not just built with availability in mind. They were designed for ideal family livability, including being near parks and schools. She emphasized the housing industry and other stakeholders need to act with more urgency to spur additional development with demand showing no signs of slowing down.
Temporary housing is also getting priority. In northeastern Minnesota, the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency has refurbished a memory care facility to serve as a homeless shelter.
Angie Neal, housing director for the agency, said they’ve been turning at least 1,000 people away each year at other shelter locations and their new space gives people time to make an easier transition.
“Having a place where it’s safe and our case managers are able to stay in contact with them is really helpful for when we’re able to connect them to other services and to get them into housing,” Neal stressed.
She noted when temperatures drop, the space will be vital so unhoused people will not be forced to stay with friends and family, potentially jeopardizing their housing situation if strict rental policies are involved.
Lori Schultz, executive director of the Minnesota Community Action Partnership, said additional state and federal funding would advance more much-needed developments.
“We’ve definitely moved the needle in this state,” Schultz asserted. “Securing funding for new housing, but there are so many regions that continue to be unfunded.”
Disclosure: The Minnesota Community Action Association Resource Fund contributes to our fund for reporting on Early Childhood Education, Health Issues, Housing/Homelessness, and Poverty Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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