HUD ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION TO CO-HOST AFFORDABLE HOUSING FORUM

NORTH DAKOTA - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Rocky Mountain Region and local housing officials will host the Souris Basin Affordable Housing Forum at Minot State University to discuss the challenges and opportunities to bring more affordable housing development in Minot.

This forum is the brainchild of HUD and the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency to convene local housing policy makers and public officials to support aggressive steps to ensure that HUD's recently awarded disaster recovery dollars assist Minot to create affordable housing as it rebuilds.

"Forums like the one here today bring together people, ideas and resources that will make certain Minot recovers from last year's flood and that badly needed affordable housing gets constructed," said Rick Garcia, HUD Rocky Mountain Regional Administrator.

Led by local community officials, forum sessions will explore tools and resources that highlight housing plans and identify challenges and opportunities for affordable housing development. In addition, there will be an update on temporary housing needs after a natural disaster, and an in-depth look at the challenges that affordable housing projects face, as well as real life examples of successful affordable housing development from some of North Dakota's non-profit development leaders.

"One important outcome of the forum will identify important steps to help the community accelerate affordable housing developments," adds Garcia. 

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing asa platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.