September 30, 2011 November 2009 March 15, 2009 July 9, 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
NEW HOME BUYER EDUCATION PROGRAM AVAILABLE ONLINE
BISMARCK, ND - The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) and CommunityWorks North Dakota (CWND) have partnered with eHome America to provide an online education program for first-time home buyers. “The eHome America course gives individuals and families new to home buying a solid understanding of the process,” said Dave Flohr, NDHFA homeownership director. “And, being informed helps you be a more effective consumer.” Using video tutorials, written materials, worksheets and quizzes, the course leads first-time buyers through the purchase process. Participants learn how to determine what they can afford to buy; how to secure a mortgage loan; and how to maintain the home purchased. Households that have not made a purchase in the current marketplace and feel that they would benefit from a refresher are also welcome to take the course. “All of the materials are online, making it easily accessible to households in either urban or rural settings,” said Kaylah Horton, CWND eHome administrator. “The coursework takes about eight hours to complete and can be done at the participant’s convenience.” The eHome America coursework can be accessed at www.ehomeamerica.org/ndhfa. The cost is $30, and the materials are available in either English or Spanish. A certificate of completion is awarded to the participants when they finish the course. eHome America was developed as a partnership between NeighborWorks America® and Community Ventures Corporation. The web class is based on the "Realizing the American Dream" educational text created by Neighborworks® America. Enroll in the eHome America program NOW!! LINKS >> |
Library Square II Highlights
By TINA DING
Seeds planted today reap tomorrow’s harvest. City leadership in Mandan, North Dakota envisioned their town as a place to live, work and play. Growing and developing their town not only took time – but diligence to the task. These leaders knew they needed to reach a broad spectrum of ages, as they attracted interest in the community. And when affordable senior housing was brought to the table, folks listened. Seeds were planted. Located at 100 1st St NW in Mandan, the initial senior housing project created more than 40 spacious apartments for folks 55 and older. Managed by Metro Plains Management, the team quickly recognized the need for further development. Cultivating an expansion to include additional apartment units as well as community space, the project once again gained momentum. Community Works North Dakota teamed with Metro Plains Development and achieved low income housing tax credits – then grant monies lent from NeighborWorks America. Securing a much needed first mortgage through Community Housing Capital, they broke ground for Library Square II. “We held a waiting list of one hundred names for Library Square II,” Community Works ND Multifamily Director Rob Knoll said. “Clearly the community needed this type of housing.” “The two buildings share a dining room as well as a chapel, exercise room, game room and library,” Metro Plains Management manager Linda Lidstrom said. “And outside of socializing, these people just plain look out for one another." Reaching outward like branches, the residents, their visiting family and friends contribute to the retail sector as they shop for grocery or fuel their vehicles. Churches, pharmacies and medical facilities gain foot traffic and hair salons or eateries enjoy an increased volume. “Library Square I and II have had a very positive impact upon the central business district,” Mandan City Administrator Jim Neubauer said. “The streets of downtown Mandan fill up with those coming for lunch and visiting guests.” Further, Neubauer said he sees friends and family join the residents for fellowship, card playing and gathering together. And certainly area retail businesses see increased sales.
Library Square I and II residents feel they have become a community within a community. So interconnected under one roof, they are each the fruit of this seed planted. New friends meet for pool, card games or lunch. Residents look out for one another, recognizing ways to help out or offer to drive friends for groceries. Borrowing a newspaper or sharing leftovers with neighbors. “I love this job so much!” Lidstrom said. “These people are like moms and grandmas to me. And not all of them come to Library Square on their own. Their children urge them to move, which is often met with resistance. However, the same tenants who don’t want to move in usually find themselves mingling by the second week. And by the end of the first month – they love it here!” Lidstrom works hard to encourage ways to help residents bond. They’ve together planted a community garden on the grounds and reaped the harvest. Community laundry rooms on each floor lend themselves to a certain level of conversation and with 91 units at capacity, friendships and new relationships are a given.
Francis and Dee Flynn Longtime Mandan residents Francis and Dee Flynn expected to live out their days at their apartment in north Mandan. Relatively young seniors, they experienced health setbacks that changed their way of life, in an instant. Recovering from major back surgery, Dee could no longer carry groceries up the stairs into their residence. Unable to help, Francis suffered a dilemma of his own. His knees wouldn’t allow him to climb the stairs at all. Fairly homebound, the couple relied upon neighbors to help them carry goods in or out. Their children encouraged them to tour the apartments at Library Square II. The timing was right. “When I saw the walk-in pantry for my larger kitchen items, I knew I could make this my home,” resident Dee Flynn said. “And then I walked into the storage room and saw my freezer would fit; that cinched it.” A bit troubled by the absence of a garage, Francis hesitated. However, after touring the building(s) with Dee, he quickly realized the potential for their quality of life. He recognized the offerings of community spaces, the neighborly atmosphere and decided the car could take care of herself. “This is going to extend our life,” Francis Flynn said. “There’s no doubt about it.” The couple moved in, less a few items. Turning the second bedroom into a dining room and office space, they now find the apartment spacious enough to live and entertain comfortably. They participate in pool, cards or bingo and enjoy affordable lunches in the dining room. Shopping for groceries means an outing, followed by a smooth elevator ride upstairs. “Strangely, I feel more independent, here,” Francis Flynn said. “Our daughter told us her prayers were answered,” Dee Flynn said.
Betty Mae Johnson Recently widowed, Betty Johnson found herself faced with creating a new life. A lower level apartment dweller, she climbed stairs outdoors. Her children were concerned with her safety, considering the harshness of winter weather; they began ‘shopping around’ for a new home. They agreed upon Library Square II. “Even after the girls told me I’d like it, I had to see a couple of apartments for myself – and they were nice,” resident Betty Mae Johnson said. “I especially liked the views to the north. My son told me I’d see storms arriving before they were on top of me.” She enjoys socializing; it was so easy to get involved with pinochle and bingo with other residents, enjoying the close knit community of Library Square residents. Johnson owns her own car and drives for groceries. “Anybody can drive around Mandan,” Johnson said. “It’s not like the hustle and bustle of Bismarck, and I do drive myself to church unless one of the girls [daughters] picks me up.” Johnson worked in the public schools prior to moving to Library Square. She admits missing the interaction with children – but now has many options for socializing with other seniors. She said if she’s ever feeling lonesome in the evenings, she heads downstairs where others tend to be gathering. “And there’s always personal company,” Johnson said. “Quite a few of my family have come by to see my new place.”
Rose Aken Forever changed, Rose Aken suffered a stroke twelve years ago. Unable to use her right arm and leg, Aken turned to Liberty Heights in Mandan. After independently living in that community for several years, she heard about Library Square II, and decided to check it out. The downtown location interested her, since she no longer drives – and she imagined she’d be able to remain self-sufficient. She’d walk outdoors to appointments, to shop or attend church. After touring a few apartments, Aken settled on a handicap accessible unit, completely changing her life. “Now I can walk around as much as I want,” resident Rose Aken said. “I can walk to the grocery store with my cart or use the laundry room without leaving the building.” Further, Aken said she finds ways to ‘go out without going out’. Cruising the halls for exercise or visiting with other residents keeps her busy. And others are helpful to her. When she’s struggling with a heavy load or unable to complete a task, she knows she can turn to one of many new friends. “Library Square is a community of its own,” Aken said. “And when I get tired of walking or need to be alone, I just go home.”
Lila Buchman Retirement for Lila Buchman meant changing up her life in a big way. Returning to North Dakota after spending three years in Minnesota, she considered Mandan’s Library Square immediately. “I decided to live in Mandan,” resident Lila Buchman said. “Since my children live in different towns across North Dakota, this was a great choice. I can still drive to see each of them.” Buchman discovered Library Square II to be filled with opportunities. A safe community to drive around in, she could leave the building to shop for grocery or use the pharmacy. She could trek around a bit to shop for antiques or gather with other residents for activities. She noticed developed friendships among others. “The seniors on the ‘other side’ [Library Square] have become ‘old friends’ now,” Buchman said. Buchman’s the new gal on the block, yet she looks forward to creating her own friendships and spending time in the community rooms, such as the exercise room, playing cards or bingo – but finds herself quite busy in her own apartment. She turned one of two bedrooms into a craft room to store her beads, embroidery and crafting supplies, everything a crafter needs.
Loretta Fettig People love a good party or gathering, and Loretta knows how to pull them off. Library Square II resident Loretta Fettig mingles and mixes with her neighbors regularly as she plays cards, bingo or joins them for crafts. And since she enjoys a good gathering, she plans them as well. A few phone calls to neighbors and she’s got cards shuffling in the game room – or after telephoning her new girlfriends, they’re gathering for a coffee clutch. Fettig recently helped plan the entertainment [games] for Library Square’s Halloween Party. Each participant came with a gag gift to exchange. “Nearly fifty guests played cards or bingo with one another,” resident Loretta Fettig said. “Everyone had a good time.” Since her children live in either Bismarck or Mandan, Fettig moved from Dickinson to Library Square at Mandan once it was open for residents. Fully utilizing the entire building, she gathers with her neighbors for everything from the noon meal to evening gatherings. She also frequents area businesses: for groceries, to have her hair done, to pick up prescriptions and to dine out with a group of friends. “Three or four of us get together every month,” Fettig said. “In fact we try to go to a different restaurant every time.” Fettig’s new to Mandan, but clearly, this is her new home. And in a home, people look out for one another. A bit of a caretaker, she considers whose faces are absent each morning – or pays attention to whose health may have changed, so she might offer to help out or report a missing person to Linda. She finds herself reaching out to help others.
The project a success, residents at Library Square and businesses in Mandan reciprocate their interconnectedness. The residents enjoy life in Mandan – and vendors appreciate the business. “The presence of Library Square in downtown Mandan provides a positive influence toward developers and businesses who consider building or locating their business to Mandan,” Mandan Business Development Director Ellen Huber said, “Additionally, friends, family and new residents to Library Square patronize area business.” Huber said Library Square ripples through the community. The impact? Great!
“Library Square has proven to be a catalyst for future developers,” Knoll said. “Mandan is now a place to invest.” Seeds planted yesterday developed into a majestic tree – deeply rooted in Mandan, branches stretching into the community. And scattered throughout the branches, 91 or so precious fruits. |
Library Square II nears completion
By LEANN ECKROTH
Bismarck Tribune
| MANDAN, N.D. —Senior
citizens will soon have a nostalgic option for independent living within the
Bismarck-Mandan metro area. Mandan's Library Square II project at 101
First St. N.W., on the site of the former Mandan Public Library, is nearing
completion and still has room for renters and commercial tenants. Come
May 1, residents can occupy the 60,000-square-foot structure, said Rob
Knoll, multi-family program director of the nonprofit CommunityWorks North
Dakota. The nonprofit group financed the senior affordable housing
project with partner Metro Plains Development. "Most of the fourth
floor has cabinets; appliances are coming in. The carpets will be one of the
last things we put in," he said. CommunityWorks bought the former library property from the city of Mandan for $1 as part of the remediation-redevelopment program. CommunityWorks and Metro Plains Development agreed to invest in the property with a combination of a residential and commercial development. Library Square II features 27 two-bedroom apartments and 18 one-bedroom units. Rent will range from $300 to $555. Some are designed to be handicapped-accessible. Knoll said deposits have been received on 20 of its units for people 55 and older. While each apartment includes a fully equipped kitchen, noon meals also are provided five days a week at the main dining room at Library Square I, next door. Laundry rooms also are available at the four-story building. Public features of the structure will include the great hall with a seating area, a chapel parlor, a library, an exercise room, and an arts/crafts/game room with a billiard table and card table. Knoll said there are 5,000 square feet of commercial space. A good share of the commercial section will house the CommunityWorks offices, but another 1,200 square feet also will be leased for other businesses and stores. Other financing partners for Library Square II are Neighborhood Housing Services of America - CDFI low-income housing tax credits - and Mountain Plains Equity Group, and their investor is Wells Fargo. Knoll said Library Square II will have a blend of independence and socialization. Both Library Square I and Library Square II have amenities and services that complement each other and residents may share. Residents can easily access both buildings. "I came in one night and there was a bunch of tables set up to play cards," Knoll said of Library Square I. "If they had been living alone, they probably would have been sitting in front of the TV. This gives them a chance to socialize with their friends and peers. They have places to go there - the chapel, the game room or to exercise." He said the heat pump system, appliances and insulation make the building energy efficient. Library Square II will keep some of the sentimental flavor of the property's original use. "When the library moved and the old library was torn down, we saved some of the historical elements, which will be put in some of the common areas," Knoll said. "There's a spiral staircase we're going to use; the big window in the hallway was from the library; the door trim, we're using that. We have some pictures, we'll do a display on the building using pictures we took of the building before it was torn down. We'll do a history of the building." The building's exterior emulates the brick of the former library building. The building is equipped with handicapped-accessible features and requires security code access at the entrance. He said the project embodies Mandan city officials' vision of branding for residents to live, work and play without the building looking out of place. Both buildings are managed through a separate branch of Metro Plains. Its construction started in September. Knoll said it will complement Library Square I, which was completed in 2004. Community Contractors of Grand Forks oversaw the construction of both Library Square buildings. Library Square I houses 46 apartments. For more information about the project, call 663-9066. |
Right At Home
By Susanne Nadeau
Grand Forks Herald
| NORTHWOOD, N.D. — Dale and Audrey Braaten’s home was destroyed by
last August’s deadly tornado. The storm lifted the house off its
foundation, creating cracks in the home’s walls and making it structurally
unsound, Dale Braaten said. Ultimately, water puddled in the basement,
and mold covered everything. The Braatens said their home at 309 Third Ave.
was unlivable. So, the couple, with three of their children, moved in
with their adult son in nearby Hatton, N.D. But while the family longed to
quickly get back into a home of their own in Northwood, they struggled to
find suitable financing. “I was ready for a nervous breakdown,” Audrey
Braaten said. Her anxiety — and that unlivable house — were nowhere in
sight Tuesday. The damaged house has been replaced by a new modular
house that’s been occupied by the Braatens since before Christmas.
“We’re in the same spot, with the same neighbors,” Audrey said. “It just
wasn’t the same in another town.” Thanks to a DREAM Fund loan program,
24 people will continue to call this town home, according to Mike Anderson
of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency. The families represent about
$650,000 in new community investment, Anderson said.
Hurdles jumped Anderson joined Sen. Kent Conrad, D-ND, Northwood city leaders and other officials from participating non-profit agencies outside the Braaten home Tuesday to ceremoniously dedicate the new or rehabilitated homes and present American flags to four Northwood families and one individual. Adam Flaagan said Northwood is “a good place to call home.” Flaagan, 25, was living in an apartment complex destroyed by the Aug. 26 tornado. He has been living in Hatton. On Tuesday, he signed off on a loan for his first home, an existing Northwood dwelling that survived the devastating storm. “I probably would not have gotten my home, but for (the program),” said Flaagan, a volunteer firefighter who also works in Northwood. “They went through a lot of hurdles to get this for me.” Flaagan just signed off on the home loan Tuesday, he said, so he hasn’t moved into his home yet. But he’s ready to move back. “I’m really excited,” he said. CommunityWorks According to the Braatens, finding a suitable loan to get back on their feet was a nightmare. They found a modular house, but the original loan they sought would have provided money in installments, rather than upfront. The latter was necessary, they said, to move their new house onto their old home’s foundation. “We had the house, and we had no money,” Audrey Braaten recalled. “I tell you, I was ready to collapse.” That’s when she checked to see whether her family would qualify for the DREAM Fund home loan program offered by CommunityWorks North Dakota. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to help revitalize communities by providing needy state residents with affordable housing and development opportunities. CommunityWorks was recruited by the state Housing Finance Agency to help provide lending assistance for Northwood’s recovery. The DREAM Fund helps individuals and families with down payment and closing cost aid, rehabilitation and emergency repair assistance, mortgage assistance and help with other financing, such as construction bridge loans. CommunityWorks gained extra lending muscle with help from Conrad, who secured financial commitments from two national nonprofit organizations — Enterprise Community Partners and NeighborWorks — to make the loans readily available to qualified applicants. The program worked wonders in Northwood, according to the people who used it. “They were right there for us,” Audrey Braaten said. And now, the Braatens, with a new home and two added foster children, are back on Northwood’s Third Avenue — right where they want to be. |
HOUSING LOAN FUND FULFILLS RURAL DREAMS
By JILL SCHRAMM
Staff Writer
Minot Daily News
Many people were skeptical when North Dakota CommunityWorks launched its DREAM Fund in 2001 to bridge the gaps in North Dakota's housing finance system. A growing loan portfolio expected to add nearly $4 million in new business this year is erasing that skepticism, said executive director Paul Rechlin of Bismarck. "It's been a struggle, but I think we have been successful," said Rechlin, who spoke Monday to county officials from northwest North Dakota at an Elmer Jesme Conference of Counties meeting in Minot.
The DREAM Fund began in August 2001 as a way to address housing needs in rural communities. Since that time, the fund has loaned about $12.3 million to 437 households. It has leveraged another $24.8 million for single-family home purchases and repairs. CommunityWorks, which assists in single- and multi-family projects, has had a $48.6 million impact on the overall housing market since 2001. Thirty counties, including Ward, participate in the DREAM Fund. Nine other counties have limited access to the fund. Borrowers obtain access to the DREAM Fund through banks if local participation is present. Participation requirements call for a half a mill in property tax for three years from the county, $1 for each meter served from rural electric utilities and $100 per $1 million in assets from banks.
The goal of the program is to spur home construction in communities where financing is difficult. Borrowers can be of any income level. "The problem isn't that they can't afford a loan. The problem is they can't get a loan. They usually aren't low income. Their credit may be excellent," Rechlin said. The problem is that houses cost more to build in rural areas than they are worth on the market. That makes the houses unattractive to companies that buy mortgages from banks, he said. To address that problem, the DREAM Fund provides a secondary mortgage to cover the difference between a home's value and the construction cost. "We are unusual in that as a second mortgage lender, we will never charge more than the bank charges on its first mortgage," Rechlin said. When banks help select reliable borrowers, it becomes reasonable to set rates based on affordability rather than risk, he said. Over the years, the fund has written off only about $30,000 as bad debt. "North Dakotans will pay back if given the opportunity," Rechlin said. "We structure our loans so they are affordable to borrowers."
The DREAM Fund also acts as first mortgage lender and has been able to attain working capital by selling mortgages to other entities. The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency recently agreed to buy up to $1 million of DREAM Fund loans. The DREAM Fund provides loans for down payment and closing costs, rehabilitation and repairs, emergency repairs, construction costs and for income and appraisal gaps.
In Ward County through August 2007, the DREAM Fund has given 22 loans totaling $409,860. Leveraged funds added nearly $1.2 million. Eighteen of the loans were used in Minot, while two families in Sawyer and one each in Kenmare and Surrey benefited. The figures include a $100,000 multi-family rehabilitation loan in Minot. The program is seeing an increased need for loans and for larger loans, Rechlin said. As the value of housing has gone up, the average loan has risen from about $10,000 to $15,000 or $20,000. But, the program made a pledge not to turn away any qualified buyer because of lack of fund resources, Rechlin said. "There's been times we have been challenged. It's been tough. It's been tight," he said. "We have been very fortunate. We have had good support."
|
BACK TO TOP
NORTH DAKOTA HOUSING AGENCY RECOGNIZES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CHAMPIONS
BISMARCK – The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) recognized six of their housing partners as Champions of Affordable Housing at the 2007 Statewide Housing Conference.
“Without the assistance of these partnering organizations, the staff at NDHFA would not be able to provide affordable home loans, ensure the availability of affordable rental units or offer a hand to community leaders struggling to meet the housing needs of their local population,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who presented the awards on behalf of the Industrial Commission.
Receiving Lender Awards:
Lender awards are based on participation in the Agency’s homeownership programs and involvement in locally sponsored affordable housing projects and events.
Affordable Housing Developers, Inc., a multi-regional Community Housing Development Organization based in Bismarck, received the Housing Production Award. Projects completed by the nonprofit developer in 2006 included six single-family units at Trail West, a 10.2 acre subdivision in Mandan; construction of 24 rental units in Dickinson; the acquisition and rehabilitation of 20 rental units in Rugby; and provision of a low-interest loan to help Berthold Housing Corp acquire, move and rehabilitate four rental units.
Lynn Fundingsland of Fargo, ND, was recognized with a Leadership Award for his dedication to providing affordable housing opportunities and creating awareness of housing issues in his community. Fundingsland heads the Fargo Housing and Redevelopment Authority and non-profit developer Beyond Shelter, Inc.
“Lynn’s advocacy is at the forefront of his activities everyday, and when faced with challenging housing projects or fear of opposition, you will often hear him say ‘if we don’t do this, who will?’” said Johnson.
NDHFA began recognizing Champions of Affordable Housing in 1995. The awards to real estate agents are presented during their annual conference in September.
For more information on the awards or other NDHFA programs, contact the Agency at (701) 328-8080, (800) 292-8621, (800) 366-6888 (TTY) or www.ndhfa.org.
The Industrial Commission of North Dakota, consisting of Governor John Hoeven, who serves as chairman, Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, oversees the NDHFA.
|
BACK TO TOP
Fargo, N.D. Bank of the
West is investing $250,000 in the CommunityWorks North Dakota (CWND) DREAM
Fund, the bank announced today. The bank's investment will provide
assistance to North Dakotans to purchase, repair, and build housing through
Bank of the West branches in Fargo, Cooperstown, Dickinson, Beach,
Lidgerwood and Wahpeton.
|
BACK TO TOP
CommunityWorks was accepted into the
NeighborWorks Campaign for Home Ownership, an alliance of over 150
organizations that promotes home ownership for low- and moderate-income
households.
CommunityWorks received a $500,000 contribution
from Wells Fargo in Minot, which will help provide additional home ownership
opportunities for North Dakotans. The award will be used three ways:
$200,000 will be contributed to the DREAM Fund for lending, $200,000
will be set aside to create residential financing opportunities for Native
Americans living on reservation lands and for families with disabled
members, and $100,000 will be loaned to Neighborhood Development Enterprises
to remodel and rehabilitate twelve low-income rental housing units in the
Minot area.
