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  "Affordable Housing Developer's Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to providing decent, safe, affordable housing for those living in Western North Dakota."     

History of AHDI

Affordable Housing Developer's Inc. (AHDI) is a multi-regional 501(c)(3) Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) created by three regional nonprofit Community Action Agencies (CAAs) [i] whose service areas cover the western half of North Dakota.  The shared mission of AHDI members is to develop, own and manage both for-sale and rental affordable housing for low and moderate-income families.

In an effort to promote activity, the Community Action Agencies approached the North Dakota Division of Community Services (DCS) with the concept of a multi-regional CHDO.  DCS encouraged AHDI to incorporate and obtain CHDO certification.  In 1997, with funding assistance from the State of North Dakota, AHDI hired a Housing Director and became a fully certified CHDO that same year.

Formed in 1997 and incorporated in 1998, AHDI partners with the three Community Action Agencies with housing development, does its own development, and serves as a conduit for 50% of the HUD HOME funds allocated annually to North Dakota CHDOs for affordable housing development. [ii]

The three member agencies in AHDI are:

AHDI has a Housing Director, a Housing Assistant and operates from an office in Dickinson, ND.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides annual funding under the HOME Program [iii] to the State of North Dakota for affordable housing activities and related programs.  HOME funds are administered by the North Dakota Department of Commerce, Division of Community Services (DCS).  CHDOs operating in AHDI's service area that are not members of AHDI may apply for HOME funds through AHDI, with the understanding that AHDI will become a development partner for the duration of the project [iv]  Housing development funds are applied for on a project-by-project basis.  Individuals or families interested in homeownership should check out the HOMEBUYERS tab for information on the required qualifications and property availability and locations.  Communities or developers interested in working with AHDI on a project should check out the FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS tab.

Track Record Highlights

• Designated in 1997 as one of the two multi-regional CHDO's by the State of North Dakota

• Provides a unique support system for nonprofit affordable housing developers

• Participated in the development of over a dozen projects totaling more than 200 units since 1997

• Achieving success by forming a collaborative network among Community Action Agencies and other housing providers in North Dakota

Service Area

AHDI Serves 28 counties in Western North Dakota

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Endnotes:

[i] Community Action Agencies are private non-profit organizations established by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America's War on Poverty.  Community Action Agencies help people to help themselves in achieving self-sufficiency.  There are seven Community Action Agencies in North Dakota providing services and programs in 53 counties.  Programs/services include Self Sufficiency, Weatherization/Energy Conservation, Head Start, Child Care, Food Pantries, Commodity Programs, Housing Rehabilitation, Housing Counseling, Homeless Prevention, Emergency Services, Youth and Educational Programs.  Community Action Agencies also develop, own and manage multi-family affordable housing.  Agencies receive funding through local, State, Federal an private sources.

[ii] AHDI is one of two "multi-regional CHDOs" designated by the North Dakota Division of Community Services to serve as conduits for HUD HOME CHDO funds.

[iii] The HOME Program was created by the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 and was designed to create partnerships among governmental entities and the private sector to make more affordable housing available to low and moderate income families.  Housing programs are targeted to families whose Median Family Income (MFI) does not exceed 80% of the MFI for the area in which they live.  HOME funds maybe used as equity investments, interest-bearing loans, grants or subsidies and are a common equity component in both for-sale and rental housing developments.  North Dakota HOME funds are distributed to "State Recipients"-the cities of Bismarck and Grand Forks, the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, CHDOs, and other qualified recipients.

[iv] To ensure that CHDO sponsored affordable housing developments are done by experienced non-profit teams, the North Dakota Division of Community Services requires that all HOME projects using the CHDO set-aside involve one of the two multi-regional CHDOs, AHDI or Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance (EDHA).  A CHDO that is not a member of one of these organizations must contract with AHDI or EDHA to act as co-developer.  When the multi-regional CHDOs were formed in 1997, all existing CHDOs were given the opportunity to join AHDI or EDHA.  Those that did not were required to become re-certified as CHDOs and to engage either AHDI or EDHA as a development partner when using HOME funds.  The six Community Action Agencies that comprise the membership of AHDI and EDHA represent the majority of the experienced non-profit developers in the State of North Dakota.