State Creates Council to Coordinate Homelessness Response, Fight Gaps

Governor Kelly Armstrong signed an executive order on November 17 establishing the North Dakota Interagency Council on Homelessness, a 12 member body charged with coordinating state agencies and community providers to better prevent and end homelessness. The council will collect community input, identify areas for improvement, and deliver annual reports with recommendations for executive and legislative action.

The council will be chaired by Brandon Dettlaff, executive director of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, with Jonathan Holth, Commissioner of Recovery and Reentry, serving as vice chair. The membership also includes four cabinet leaders and six governor appointed representatives from organizations that include the Coalition for Homeless People, YWCA Cass Clay, and local government officials. The structure is intended to bring housing finance, recovery and reentry services, nonprofit providers, and local governments into a single forum for planning and coordination.

For Stutsman County residents the council could mean more focused attention on gaps in service that allow people to fall through despite a robust patchwork of programs. The executive order notes that North Dakota has strong support services, yet individuals still fall through the cracks. By gathering input from communities and identifying improvements, the council may influence how state funds are allocated, how reentry services connect to housing, and how local shelters and providers coordinate with state agencies.

The council is required to report annually on progress and to recommend both executive and legislative actions. Those reports will be a key mechanism by which Jamestown and other communities in Stutsman County can seek changes in policy or funding. Local leaders and service providers will have opportunities to provide input as members conduct outreach and develop strategies.

Governor Armstrong also proclaimed November 16 through November 22 as Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, aligning the council launch with a statewide focus on those issues. The interagency approach mirrors efforts seen elsewhere to bridge agency boundaries and produce more coherent service delivery. For residents seeking assistance, the new council promises a coordinated statewide effort, while for local officials it creates a visible avenue for advocating specific needs facing Stutsman County.