Some North Dakota groups are renewing calls for the state to be more efficient in dispersing emergency pandemic rental aid. They say improvements have been made, but warn people who still need it are going without. Last fall, North Dakota launched the online component of its Rent Help initiative, which distributes federal assistance for households facing eviction. .
Higher mortgage rates and skyrocketing rents have fueled the nation s housing crisis. In states like Iowa, rural communities deal with the same market issues, but they point to existing efforts as a blueprint to increase access. In the past decade, housing growth in rural areas was roughly 3%, which is far below suburban areas. .
Those who enroll renters in the program say there's been some improvement, but delays in receiving funding still occur, resulting in unnecessary evictions.
By Reuters Media Lured by the promise of jobs created by the oil and gas boom, Mario Solano left his home in Miami to travel to a new life in the center of it all North Dakota. At first, Solano found temporary jobs driving trucks for oil and g.