After 41 years of dedicated service, Dave Flohr, the Executive Director of North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) announced his retirement. Under his leadership, the agency has made significant strides in improving access to affordable housing. Through his guidance, NDHFA has expanded its impact and fostered collaborations that have helped thousands of individuals and families across North Dakota.
Shortly after Flohr’s appointment as executive director in 2020, the Bank of North Dakota (BND) and NDHFA took steps toward consolidating the roles they play as state agencies in financing residential real estate as BND transferred the servicing of most of its residential loan portfolio to NDHFA. In response, NDHFA updated its North Dakota Roots program by removing the cap on borrower income limits and allowing the refinancing of residential loans.
The agency’s homeownership programs continued to experience strong demand as the Roots program broke a record, the agency purchased 429 Roots loans valued at almost $119 million. Just over a year later, the agency celebrated 50,000 FirstHome loans purchased.
NDHFA’s effectiveness increased with the expansion of the Housing Incentive Fund (HIF) to include single-family activities. One of the goals of this funding is to provide much-needed new housing in smaller communities, helping employers who are trying to recruit workers and boost a stagnant housing market. HIF continues to deliver practical and flexible financing and has created 3,331 affordable rental homes and committed funds for the development of 24 single-family homes.
Under Flohr’s leadership, the agency published extensive housing reports, including the Statewide Housing Needs Assessment to address housing options, affordability barriers and the needs of the state’s population. The data gathered can be used by state and local leadership to empower decision making and highlight the hurdles many in our state face in finding housing as well as the state’s expected housing requirements as determined by recent trends and the growing segments of the state’s population.
NDHFA, under Flohr’s guidance, increased their commitment to solving the homeless crisis by assuming the administration of the North Dakota Homeless Continuum of Care, Emergency Solutions Grant and North Dakota Homeless Grant. NDHFA continues to streamline government operations and provide a more efficient and integrated approach to addressing homelessness. Furthering these efforts, Flohr was also pleased that the legislature appropriated $10 million for homelessness in 2025.
While Flohr will be deeply missed, his vision and commitment will continue at NDHFA. The board and staff are grateful for the foundation he built, and the direction provided over the years. We wish Dave all the best in retirement and look forward to carrying on the mission of providing affordable housing honoring the work he accomplished.
