Earlier this month, the North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the state's, pandemic emergency response program for renters experiencing housing instability will begin ramping down ahead of the expiration of federal funding available through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The temporary pandemic funds have been used by the state for emergency rent assistance, to provide housing stability supports for those in the state or are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Since May 2021, more than 56,000 people in 51 counties have received aid through the program.

According to a release from the HHS website. The department receives approximately 200 new applications each week from North Dakota households who are either unhoused or at risk of losing their housing.

HHS will stop accepting applications from households experiencing homelessness on Saturday, March 15th, and from households that are housed but at risk of eviction on June 30th.

The state has indicated that they intend to utilize all funds that are still available to provide eviction protection resources for as long as they are available, which is anticipated to last until September 15th.

Governor Armstrong is supporting proposed resources, which he included in the executive budget request that has been sent to the state legislature. The budgetary requests are in addition to funds that have been requested to address housing supply issues.

This statewide program has directly impacted people living in 51 of North Dakota's 53 counties, with one-third (18,644) of the beneficiaries being children ages 0-17.

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The program has overall invested $187 million in federal funds to help the state combat homelessness over the past four years.