Finding Housing for Law Enforcement | Video

Alex Hagan | 6/19/2012

The housing crunch is affecting everybody in western North Dakota and potential employees are turning down jobs because they can`t find places to live. That includes police officers. Rising rents and lack of housing continue to be a problem in booming communities, now the lack of housing is causing some concern for law enforcement.

Crime is increasing in western North Dakota and that means law enforcement needs more employees.

"We have positions that we need to fill and with filling those positions we need to find housing for them also," said Captain David Wilkie.

The housing issue starts with the application process.

"They are applying for the jobs and then they are doing their research afterwards and finding out that the wages that are being offered aren`t going to help."

Police salaries aren`t going to cover the rising rent costs.

"When you`re making 17, 19 hundred dollars and your rent is going to be $1,500 of that, that doesn`t allow a lot of leeway with money."

However Stark County leaders say there is something in the works to help out.

"There`s some projects coming out of the state of North Dakota or grant money coming out of the state of North Dakota to assist us with law enforcement needs as far as housing," said Stark County Commissioner Jay Elkin.

One idea they`ve come up with is building a large complex to house law enforcement officers.

"Long-term, we might be better off looking at building something that`s affordable, especially along side of the city," Elkin said.

Housing continues to be an issue for everyone, but Stark County leaders say that issue is especially important when it comes to finding a place for those who fight crime to live.

County leaders say until there`s a long term solution, they plan to set up used FEMA trailers for temporary housing for officers in July.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY