Watford City is Adding Essential Housing | Video

Chris Williams | 2/12/2013

Construction in western North Dakota never seems to stop, and neither does the need for affordable housing. In Watford City, developers and a non-profit board have been working on a housing complex for essential personal, like teachers and police officers.

Wolf Run Village is going to cost around eight million dollars to build. The Wolf Run Village board has risen close to three million dollars and has a five million dollar loan. The new complex will give young couples in the area a chance to settle down.

Michelle Dehaven and her husband Ben moved to Watford City to start teaching. They couldn`t find affordable housing, so they were left with only one option.

"We started in my husband’s parent’s basement, for one year," said Michelle.

The school eventually set up trailers for teachers, which was a nice change of pace for the Dehavens.

"I enjoyed the windows, I loved the fact that I actually get sunlight now," Michelle added.

The Watford City Police Department needs to hire four new officers, but they keep running into the same problem.

"There was one that had a family, a few kids, a wife, and just there`s no housing. He couldn`t get up here. He couldn`t do it. If he did he`s going to have a lot bigger mortgage payment," said Sgt. Andrew Langowski.

To help ease the burden for essential workers, a non-profit complex is being built close to the elementary school.

"Wolf Run Village will include 44 units: 27 singles, and 17 two bedrooms," said Watford City Mayor Brent Sanford.

The building is being constructed off site, and will be able to be assembled quickly once it is brought in.

"It will be, literally, weeks once the units are moved into town. We`re shooting for June or July time frame for housing," added Sanford.

Sanford says the rent will be about 800-900 dollars, which will benefit the young people moving to the area for their first jobs.

"This can actually be an opportunity for us to consider, do we want to stay here long term, and continue to look for the next step up," Michelle added.

A daycare facility is also being built beside the housing complex.

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