Grand Forks Planning and Zoning Commission Hears From AARP on Housing

(KNOX) – The Grand Forks Planning and Zoning Commission got an update on housing from the North Dakota Director of AARP, Josh Askvig.

“Finding that housing that fits, not just older adults, but often times young families, those looking for starter homes, it’s kind of the same side of the coin here- a real struggle,” Askvig says.

He says there are several factors that contribute to the lack of affordable housing in any community. According to AARP, 75 percent of people over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes.

“In North Dakota we continually hear, ‘How do they stay safe and independent in the communities they call home?’” Askvig says.

He adds that there is not an area of the state that is immune to housing problems.

“What we’re seeing in many instances, this is not just in rural communities in North Dakota, but in all communities across North Dakota, there is often a struggle when it comes to, ‘I want to downsize, I no longer have kids in my home,’” says Askvig

AARP supports the concept of Middle Housing, which helps meet the housing needs of growing communities and provides diverse housing options such as smaller homes, multigenerational homes.

The North Dakota Housing Initiative includes “Missing Middle.”