MSU Students Address Affordable Housing Situation | Video

Rich Wisniewski | 3/26/2012

Affordable housing in Minot is at a premium. Over the past few years, rent has skyrocketed, leaving many younger residents in the red. Perhaps that issue isn`t hitting anyone harder then Minot State University students.

As a college student prepares for the real world, the last thing they want to think about is housing. Unfortunately, for a good amount of them, it`s just another issue to pile on to their curriculum.

"It`s definitely a major concern," said Jolita Bennett.

She who adds that the housing issue is also starting to affect enrollment numbers. Students have had to drop out of college since they either can’t afford their housing or they are just unable to find a place.

Students all around the MSU campus are sweating out the housing issue that has affected many in Minot. This issue isn`t just housing, it`s finding affordable housing. Monday afternoon, students made their concerns heard to a panel of city leaders.

"So taking away from this meeting are different options and different things that are coming into the community and ideas and perspectives we may not have thought about prior," said Dean Frantsvog, Minot City Council President

Frantsvog was among the panelists on the board. He heard the student`s concerns loud and clear, but he says the first step is identifying the exact number of people who have been affected.

"We need to get good solid information and then work on a solution and work with people that need this type of affordable housing and work on a solution."

Meanwhile, the students who hosted the meeting are frustrated, but they say they understand the position the city leaders are in.

"As the panel explained, in any free market economy when you have the boom, you get so inundated and things happen very, very fast," said Daniel Haft, President of the MSU Sociology Club, the club that held the event.

Those investing and paying for new housing don`t want to build too much and end up losing money. The question is: Where is that tipping point?

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