Sen. John Hoeven on Wednesday brought U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson to Grand Forks and the Spirit Lake Reservation to see local housing projects and give the region’s officials and service providers the opportunity to provide direct input on HUD’s programs as well as to discuss local needs and opportunities to make more effective use of federal funding, according to a news release.

“As people work to secure permanent housing, they can face myriad challenges, including a shortage of affordable homes, and in some instances, accessing behavioral health treatment and furthering their education,” said Hoeven. “That’s why efforts like LaGrave on First and HUD-VASH are so important, because in addition to providing a safe place to live, they help individuals access the services they need to achieve long-term success. Carson’s visit gives him the opportunity to see the good work our local housing authorities are doing with the support of federal programs, and we appreciate his willingness to hear from our service providers firsthand.”

LaGrave on First is a recently-opened, $9 million housing and supportive service facility developed by the City of Grand Forks and the local housing authority.

A bill would make permanent the Tribal HUD-VASH program which provides rental assistance and supportive services to homeless and at-risk Native American veterans, including those on the Spirit Lake, Turtle Mountain and Standing Rock reservations. Resources would also be set aside for tribes and tribal housing authorities, providing stability to their efforts to address veteran homelessness.