Where North Dakota Housing Vouchers Come From

Housing vouchers in North Dakota are distributed through local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), not through a single state office. Each PHA serves a specific county or region and holds its own waiting list. The largest programs operate in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot, but smaller PHAs serve rural areas as well. You explore to the PHA that covers the county where you want to live, not to the state.

North Dakota does not run a centralized voucher program. Instead, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal funding to each local authority, and that authority decides how to manage its waiting list, set payment standards, and process requests. This means the rules, wait times, and available vouchers differ depending on which PHA you contact.

The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency can tell you which PHA serves your county, but they do not issue vouchers themselves. Your first step is to identify your local authority and contact them directly.

Key Takeaways

  • You must explore to the Public Housing Authority that serves your county, not to a state agency, because each PHA manages its own waiting list and voucher stock.
  • North Dakota's largest voucher programs are in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot, but rural counties have smaller programs with potentially shorter waits.
  • Waiting lists are often closed, and you cannot know whether a list is open without calling the PHA directly — no online status page covers all authorities.
  • Once you receive a voucher, you search for your own rental unit and the landlord must accept the voucher; the PHA pays a portion of rent directly to the landlord.
  • Income limits vary by PHA and by household size, but most North Dakota programs serve households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income.

Finding Your Local Public Housing Authority

North Dakota has approximately 15 to 20 active PHAs, depending on how you count consolidated authorities. The largest are Bismarck Housing Authority, Fargo Housing Authority, Grand Forks Housing Authority, and Minot Housing Authority. If you live in a smaller city or rural county, your PHA may be smaller and may operate under a different name — sometimes as a "Housing and Redevelopment Authority" or as part of a multi-county system.

The fastest way to find your PHA is to call the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency at 701-328-8020 and tell them your county. They will give you the name and phone number of the authority that serves you. You can also search HUD's online PHA directory at hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha_contacts, though the directory does not always list smaller rural authorities with current contact information.

Once you have the PHA's phone number, call and ask whether their voucher waiting list is open. Do not assume it is. Many North Dakota PHAs close their lists when they reach capacity and reopen them only when funding allows or when vouchers become available. A closed list means you cannot explore until it reopens, which may take months or years.

What You Need Before You Call

Before you contact your PHA, gather documents that prove your identity, income, and household composition. You will not submit everything on the first call, but having these ready speeds up the process and shows the PHA you are serious.

Bring a photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID), proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, benefit letters, or tax returns), and documentation of everyone in your household (birth certificates, custody papers if applicable). If you are currently homeless or living in temporary housing, bring whatever ID you have. If you receive benefits — TANF, SNAP, SSI, or unemployment — bring the most recent award letter or benefit statement.

If you are self-employed, bring tax returns for the past two years and a profit-and-loss statement. If your income is irregular or you have no income, bring documentation of that too — the PHA needs to know your actual situation to determine whether you meet income limits.

The process and Waiting List Process

When you call your PHA and the waiting list is open, ask whether you can explore over the phone or whether you must visit in person. Some North Dakota PHAs accept phone applications; others require you to come to their office. A few offer online applications, though this is less common in smaller authorities.

During the process, the PHA will ask for your name, Social Security number, current address, household members and their ages, monthly income, and whether you have any criminal history or prior evictions. Answer honestly. The PHA will verify income and run a background check later, and lying now will disqualify you.

Once you are on the waiting list, the PHA will give you a confirmation number or letter. Keep this. You will need it if you call back to check your status. Waiting times vary widely — some North Dakota PHAs have waits of one to two years, while others in rural areas may move faster. The PHA cannot tell you exactly when you will receive a voucher, only where you stand on the list.

If your circumstances change — your income drops, your household size changes, or you move to a different county — call your PHA when ready. Some changes may move you up the list; others may affect your status. Do not assume the PHA will find out on its own.

Income Limits and Household Size

North Dakota PHAs use income limits set by HUD, which are based on the area median income for each county. A household earning 30 percent of the area median income qualifies for the deepest subsidy; households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income may also may have access to, depending on the PHA's policy.

Income limits are higher for larger households. A single person in Bismarck has a lower limit than a family of four in the same city. The PHA serving your county will tell you the exact limits for your household size when you call. These limits change each year, usually in April, so if you were told you did not meet the limit last year, call again to ask whether the new year's limits changed your status.

Income includes wages, self-employment income, Social Security, unemployment benefits, child support, and alimony. It does not include food information (SNAP) or most other in-kind benefits. If you are unsure whether a particular income source counts, ask the PHA directly — they explore the rules consistently and will give you a straight answer.

What Happens When You Receive a Voucher

When the PHA calls to tell you a voucher is available, you will have a limited time — usually 10 business days — to attend an orientation session. This session explains how the voucher works, what your responsibilities are, and what the landlord's responsibilities are. Attend on time. Missing the session forfeits your voucher and sends you back to the waiting list.

After orientation, you have a search period — typically 60 to 90 days — to find a rental unit that accepts the voucher and meets HUD's housing quality standards. You search on your own; the PHA does not find housing for you. Once you find a unit and the landlord agrees to accept the voucher, the PHA inspects the property to may support it meets standards for safety, sanitation, and maintenance.

If the unit passes inspection, the PHA signs a lease with the landlord and issues you a voucher. You pay your portion of the rent (based on your income) and the PHA pays the rest directly to the landlord. The amount the PHA pays is called the "payment standard" and varies by bedroom size and by county.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I explore to more than one PHA at the same time?

Yes. If you are willing to move to a different county, explore to multiple PHAs increases your chances of receiving a voucher sooner. However, once you receive a voucher from one PHA, you must notify the others that you are no longer interested, because accepting a voucher from a second PHA while already holding one from the first is considered fraud.

What if the waiting list is closed in my county?

Call the PHA every few months to ask whether the list has reopened. Some lists open seasonally or when funding becomes available. You can also ask to be notified when the list reopens; some PHAs maintain a notification list for this purpose. If your county's wait is very long, consider whether you could move to a neighboring county with a shorter wait.

Do I have to use the voucher in North Dakota?

No. Once you receive a voucher, you can use it in any state, though you must request a "portability transfer" from your PHA and the receiving PHA must accept it. This process takes time and is not may provide, so ask your PHA about portability rules before you plan to move out of state.

What if I am denied because of my background or credit?

Ask the PHA for the specific reason for denial. Some reasons — like an active eviction or recent drug conviction — may be permanent. Others, like unpaid debt or a poor rental history, may improve over time. You can reapply after a waiting period, which varies by PHA. Ask how long you must wait and what you can do to strengthen your next process.

Can I keep my voucher if I lose my job?

Yes. A voucher is not tied to employment. If your income drops, tell the PHA when ready — your rent portion may decrease, which actually helps you. If your income rises significantly, your rent portion will increase, but you keep the voucher as long as you stay within the program's income limits.