Williston, N.D. (AP) North Dakota oil patch officials and leaders are asking the head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for help dealing with high housing costs. HUD Chief Julian Castro toured western North Dakota communities Wednesday with U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp. He later heard about housing concerns in a roundtable discussion.
The oil boom has driven housing costs up in the area. Newer one-bedroom apartments in Williston often rent for $2000 a month or more.
Castro also announced the HUD approval of emergency waivers for fair market rents in nine western North Dakota counties.
Fair market rents determine government rent subsidies to qualifying low-income renters. But Heitkamp has said that fair market rents determined by HUD for North Dakota counties previously did not reflect the rising cost of housing.