Amid North Dakota housing shortfalls, some hope for renewed efforts

BISMARCK — Before leaving office, former Gov. Doug Burgum proposed spending $96 million on a housing initiative for the current biennium.

Upon assuming the governor’s office earlier this year, Kelly Armstrong upped the ante, proposing $105 million toward similar housing initiatives.

In the end, the state Legislature devoted $35 million total toward housing solutions during the last session, with $10 million going to address homelessness.

That left a bucket of $25 million for the state’s housing incentive fund, which creates a super-competitive situation for communities hoping to tap that funding.

Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken, who served as commissioner for South Dakota’s Office of Economic Development before taking up his new position earlier this year, saw firsthand in Pie