The High Plains Fair Housing Center, the only organization of its kind serving North and South Dakota, has furloughed a portion of its staff. The Grand Forks-based center attributed the layoffs to a significant delay in receiving a $425,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Executive Director Michelle Rydz stated that the center has been awaiting the Fair Housing Initiatives Program grant since May. Rydz informed the North Dakota Monitor that she and HUD were prepared to finalize the grant last week, when "for some reason they stopped."
As a direct result of this funding gap, three of the center’s eight staff members have been furloughed, and a fourth employee could face furlough in the coming weeks. Rydz indicated that the organization could sustain itself for approximately another year with reduced staff and other existing grants, expressing a strong desire to avoid shutting down. She emphasized her belief that the Fair Housing Act represents an important civil right for all.
Furloughs had been a concern for the center as early as July 31. However, Rydz said the organization managed to maintain its full staff through fundraising efforts, successful grant applications, and internal budget adjustments. She also noted that she has personally reduced her work hours to help retain other staff members.
The timeline for the arrival of the federal grant remains uncertain, with Rydz stating it "might be a year from now." While HUD's public affairs office acknowledged an inquiry from the North Dakota Monitor, they did not provide an immediate response. Rydz noted that her organization is not alone in experiencing such grant delays, as other similar groups across the United States are facing the same issue.
This $425,000 grant represents the final installment of a previously approved three-year funding package. The second year of the grant concluded in May, and the High Plains Fair Housing Center had anticipated the third portion to commence the following day.
The center's mission involves assisting individuals affected by the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on characteristics such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability. The organization plays a vital role in investigating, mediating, and resolving housing discrimination complaints, as well as providing assistance with accommodations.
With fewer staff, Rydz acknowledged the center will not be able to provide the same level of crucial advocacy service as before. The revised operational strategy will involve shifting towards educating callers, empowering them to advocate for their own housing rights.
In 2025, the High Plains Fair Housing Center handled a total of 958 calls. Over one-third of these calls were related to allegations of housing discrimination, while the remaining inquiries pertained to landlord-tenant matters or general questions. The center achieved 204 client resolutions, with approximately half of those resolved without requiring the formal filing of a complaint.
The impact of the furloughs will also be felt beyond North Dakota. Over the last year and a half, the center addressed about 100 calls from South Dakota, a state that lacks its own fair housing organization. Rydz confirmed that the High Plains Fair Housing Center will no longer be able to offer assistance in South Dakota due to the staffing reductions.
This situation is unfolding amidst a broader legal challenge. A federal lawsuit, brought by the National Fair Housing Alliance and the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, seeks to prevent HUD from implementing proposed changes to the grant program. These challengers allege that the changes would significantly reduce funding for more than 100 fair housing groups while allocating substantial sums to a select few "favored" organizations. A judge recently granted a temporary block requested by the plaintiffs in this lawsuit.
