Everybody deserves the human dignity of a safe and decent place to life.
With that philosophy in mind, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota has worked to bring affordable, comfortable housing to rural North Dakota residents for many years.
Most recently, that involved taking over management on four rental properties in Bottineau: Oak Manor senior living, Brander Street Apartments, the Fifth Street Townhomes and Oak View.
The properties will still be owned by Joel Fremstad of Fargo and Lola Kimpland remains as resident manager.
However, renters and prospective tenants will likely notice changes in management philosophy, including a more tenant-friendly approach and increased flexibility in qualifying for apartments.
“The thing I liked about LSS taking over management was that I knew it was a more faith-centered organization, so I knew there would be more emphasis on taking care of people than if it were a large, impersonal rental company,” Kimpland said.
Kimpland also has recruited two Bottineau-area residents to help maintain the property. That includes Marshall Grant, an electrician’s apprentice with Karsten Bartsch, as a maintenance technician and Georgette Weber as residential cleaning specialist. “He is a wonderful maintenance guy and she is phenomenal. She can work circles around me,” Kimpland says, laughing. “I was so glad we got both of them.”
The Kimplands also have lived in Bottineau for a while. Twelve years ago, Lola and husband Randy relocated from New York to North Dakota, where Lola recently retired as district manager for the Mouse River Conservation District and Randy, a former postal employee, is now a lay minister with United Parish in Westhope.
“We love Bottineau. We even have our cemetery plots here,” Kimpland quips, with a laugh.
As an introduction to the new management team, LSS Housing is offering the first month of rent free to all new tenants who sign a 12-month lease during the holiday season. Tenants who help recruit new renters to sign leases will also receive a finder’s fee.
Although most units in Oak View are still in the process of being renovated, Kimpland says, there are many good options available in the other properties. The four-plex townhomes are spacious with open-concept floorplans, microwaves, dishwashers and garages. Utilities are paid for all the properties, and Oak Manor also features free wi-fi. The properties can also accommodate all income levels, ages and lifestyles: from HUD and subsidized to senior-living, larger units for families, and market-rate.
Lutheran Social Services has held an established presence in the Bottineau for a while. LSSND services such as family counseling, restorative justice, Child Care Aware/Bright and Early, adoption/pregnancy counseling, senior companions, volunteer companions and RSVP senior volunteers are all available in the city. Community members also can travel to Minot to take part in LSS’s Violence Free and Gamblers Choice programs.
Paulette Paulson, director of housing at LSS, says the housing component is just another way in which LSS is prepared to serve the community. “We’ve been offering hope and healing to Bottineau’s citizens by helping its youngest infants through childcare and adoption, to walking with its youth during turbulent times, to assisting seniors with any of their needs with our various companionship programs,” she says. “Now we’re also in the community to assist families and individuals in obtaining affordable housing. We are an organization that is here to help and here to stay.”
To learn more about rental options, call Lola at 701-263-2189. To learn about LSSND’s other services, visit our What We Do page.