High Plains Fair Housing Center Based In Grand Forks Could Layoff Employees

(KNOX) – The High Plains Fair Housing Center says they might have to lay off up to half of its employees if federal funding they are supposed to receive doesn’t come before this Friday.

The housing center is based in Grand Forks and it’s waiting to get a grant of $425,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They are expecting to receive it for fiscal year 2026. The funding was already appropriated by Congress, but a change in what fiscal year those funds come from can lead to the federal government being able to delay in giving those funds until next year.

This would be the third year they were given funds through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program from HUD. Executive Director Michelle Rydz says most of those funds are used for operating costs and employee salaries. She also says the last grant they were given ended in May.

The High Plains Fair Housing Center provides services to people with disabilities. It also advocates having rent payments happen on a different date that will line up with disability insurance payments, and it helps prevent eviction and it provides fair housing education.

The organization has seven employees and has offices in Grand Forks, Bismarck and Fargo. If HUD doesn’t provide the funds by the end of the month, four employees will be laid off, which includes one employee in the Grand Forks office.

Rydz is asking the public to reach out to U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, as well as Representative Julie Fedorchak to encourage them to reach out to HUD and provide the grant funds right away.

She also is encouraging the public to reach out to them to ensure future multi-year grants aren’t put on hold because of administrative actions. She says Hoeven’s office has already reached out to HUD, and she is planning to meet with Cramer’s office.