NDRH Housing Stabilization FAQs

Try to enter your name as “firstname.lastname” when you log into the portal. If this does not work, do not create another account. Please contact the contact center for additional assistance dhserb@nd.gov or 701-328-1907.

Step-by-step instructions for the re-housing application process for the household applying can be found here, eviction prevention application instructions are located here, and instructions for housing providers can also be found on our website here.

Application processing times may vary depending on the number of applications coming in and the priority level of the application. Eviction prevention applications will be prioritized first with all applications being processed in the order they are received.

Determination times may be delayed if the program is unable to reach the housing provider to complete a payment request or if the applicant did not submit all information needed to make a determination.

AMI is Area Median Income. The midpoint of the region’s income distribution, meaning that half of the households in a region earn more than the median and half earn less than the median. AMI is published for each county in the United States by U.S. Housing and Urban Development and is the basis for the NDRH Housing Stability income thresholds. An applicant’s AMI must be at or below 50% to qualify for assistance.

See where your income falls on this Income Limit AMI Chart.

NDRH Housing Stabilization remains a neutral party among North Dakota’s Housing Providers. Searching newspapers, Facebook marketplace, ads, online resources, and asking friends and family about any known rentals properties is a good starting place.

NDRH Housing Stabilization seeks to prioritize the understanding of the application process and renter/housing provider relationships. Re-housing applicants will be required to meet with a coach to review a Letter of Commitment and New Renter Training prior to having their Letter of Commitment issued.

Eviction prevention applicants must also complete New Renter Training after the approval of their application.

Both application types may be required to complete additional trainings dependent on how many months they are eligible to receive assistance.

NDRH Housing Stabilization is only able to pay the security deposit after an applicant with a Letter of Commitment has submitted their housed application. The security deposit will be paid upon approval of the housed application as long as the ledger shows the security deposit as outstanding. NDRH cannot reimburse applicants for previously paid balances. Contact the contact center if you have questions at dhserb@nd.gov or 701-328-1907.

NDRH Housing Stabilization cannot reimburse renters for any costs they covered on their own.

Applicants who have received a Letter of Commitment under NDRH Housing Stabilization can log into their portal and download a copy of their Letter of Commitment. If you are working with a housing facilitator, you may contact them to receive a copy of your Letter of Commitment.

You must submit your housed extension within 30 days of signing a lease.

What you need to submit your housed extension:

• SIGNED LEASE – ALL PAGES: Include any addendums or other housing assistance documents.
• ITEMIZED LEDGER: Your housing provider can provide this document showing application fees, deposits, first-month rent, or any other fees/expenses due or paid.
• LETTER OF COMMITMENT: Read and signed by the housing provider. Provide them with the reference number.
• ID: If not in your application already. (Government-issued photo ID, license, passport, military ID, etc.)
• HOUSING PROVIDER CONTACT INFORMATION: Your housing provider name, email, and phone number will be required in your housed extension.
   

Steps for Updating Letter of Commitment

Step 1: Email us a request to update your Letter of Commitment at dhserb@nd.gov. NDHS staff will make the option to update your Letter of Commitment available in the portal.

Step 2: Your application will go back into review, then if approved, your Letter of Commitment will be re-issued.

Letters of Commitment expire 90 days after the date that they are issued. The issue date should reflect the date that your re-housing application was approved.

The option to renew will automatically update in portal once Letter of Commitment expires.  Please login to your portal and update any information that has changed. A new Letter of Commitment will be issued to you upon review of your renewal.

Do not sign a lease with an expired Letter of Commitment.

If you have a past rental debt that is preventing you from finding stable housing, you may submit a request for a barrier to housing payment to cover this debt. 

Applicants are only able to utilize their Letter of Commitment for one residence. Since NDRH Housing Stabilization only provides short term assistance, having applicants stay at the residence they were approved for ensures housing stability.

In rare extenuating circumstances, applicant moves will be allowed if the stability or living conditions of the household are compromised. Please contact the contact center prior to moving at dhserb@nd.gov or 701-328-1907 to see if your move can be pre-authorized. 

Eviction Prevention applications can be submitted through the ND Housing Stability Portal.

See the user guide here for step-by-step instructions for application submission.

Yes, non-renewals or lease terminations can be submitted to the Eviction Prevention program for assistance. Since lease terminations typically are due to reasons beyond non-payment, the hosuing provider and renter may need to participate in mediation services to resolve existing conflicts.

If you are currently receiving assistance from the Re-Housing program and get an eviction notice from your housing provider, please contact the call center at 701-328-1907 or dhserb@nd.gov to determine if an eviction prevention application is necessary.

Depending on where you are in the application process completion of other tasks instead of an eviction prevention application may be necessary. For instance, if you have not completed all of your coaching sessions or submitted your extended benefits recertification, the completion of these tasks may be more suited for resolving your situation than an eviction prevention application.

Eligible renters may be approved for Eviction prevention payments a maximum of 2 times.

Upon approval of their first Eviction Prevention application, applicants can receive up to 6 months of rental assistance. The assistance is contingent upon their continued eligibility and completion of required trainings.

Payment requests submitted by housing providers ensure that payment can be received by the housing provider directly and through their preferred payment method. Additionally, completion of the payment request within the 21-day outreach window is required to be able to request payments for housing provider mitigation or vacancy loss.

While payment requests are optional for both the Re-Housing and Eviction Prevention programs, only Eviction Prevention has the ability to send an eviction payment to the housing provider through their Supplier ID without a payment request due to the urgent nature of the program. Housing providers must complete a payment request to receive available rental assistance payments after the eviction prevention payment has been sent.

If a payment request is not completed in either program, the renter will recieve payment directly via check to their address.

If you cannot remember your Supplier ID or Company ID, please contact dhserb@nd.gov or 701-328-1907.

The NDRH Housing Stabilization program has payments go out once per week on Thursdays. Payments sent via check typically take around 2 weeks to be received. Payments sent via direct deposit are typically received within 3-5 days of payment issuance.

Payment times vary depending on how the housing provider has registered to receive payment. Direct deposit payments will typically show up in the selected account within 5 days of payment being sent. Check payments usually take around 14-21 days to be received by mail.

If you are a housing provider and have not received your payment within the timeframe specified by your preferred payment method, please contact the call center at 701-328-1907 or dhserb@nd.gov.

If you are a renter and your housing provider has not yet posted payment to your ledger within a two-week time frame of it being sent, please contact your housing provider first to confirm if they are missing the payment and then contact us at 701-328-1907 or dhserb@nd.gov.

Applicants that have utilized a Letter of Commitment that was issued prior to May 1st, 2023, to obtain housing may qualify for up to 12 months of assistance with continued eligibility and completed recertifications.

Applicants that have utilized a Letter of Commitment that was issued on or after May 1st, 2023, to obtain housing will qualify for up to 6 months of assistance and security deposit.

If you qualify to receive additional assistance, you will receive an email to recertify from IT Service Desk.

NDRH Housing Stabilization does not provide utility assistance. If you have a past utility debt that is preventing you from finding stable housing, you may submit a request for a barrier to housing payment to cover this debt. 

You can seek assistance for home energy costs from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Visit the Apply for Help page for other financial help programs.

Effective February 1st, 2025, an applicant who has used their letter of commitment to obtain housing and has failed to submit a housing application in their portal within 30 days of signing their lease or has been denied due to being over the letter of commitment limit can be denied benefits.

Once you have found a housing provider and signed a lease with a valid letter of commitment, you will need to log into your application and submit your housed application.