A Place to Call Home: Meeting Missoula's Housing Needs
Missoula's City Council adopted "A Place to Call Home" in June of 2019. This citywide housing policy proposes over two dozen individual strategies to address increasing housing costs in Missoula. As the City works through implementation of these specific policies and programs, we want to keep in touch with the community and continually get your feedback. Leave your thoughts on this page about housing in Missoula, respond to quick polls, and check back for updates on the policy implementation.
Background
In the past several years, Missoula has seen remarkable growth in its economy and population. This growth and vitality, however, has brought challenges. Home prices have steadily increased in recent years, outpacing wage growth and causing many Missoulians to find it challenging to afford safe and healthy homes. From young families to retirees, more than half of Missoulians can’t afford to participate in the increasingly expensive housing market.
Missoula's citywide housing policy proposes a fundamental shift in how housing is prioritized within the City of Missoula, as well as a commitment to long-term funding of housing initiatives. Collectively, the recommendations contained in the policy compose a thorough strategy that will support the market while ensuring long-term affordability and preservation. The housing policy recognizes that neighborhoods have unique needs and that as we grow as a community we must develop thoughtfully, in a way that is sustainable and equitable, while maintaining community quality. Throughout this growth, no neighborhood should be asked to experience radical change. Consequently, no neighborhood should be exempt from change either.
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Learn with us! Fair Housing Workshop for Landlords and Property Managers
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Join us to learn more about your responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act!
In partnership with the City of Missoula and HUD, Kate Boyd from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity will teach the foundations of Fair Housing for landlords and property managers on Tuesday, March 5 from 5:30-7:30pm.
You can expect to learn:
- Details of the Fair Housing Act
- About reasonable accommodations and modifications
- Best practices for providing housing that is free from discrimination
The workshop will be held at the Fairgrounds-Home Arts Building, 1101 South Avenue W. Parking is available on site.
We hope you can join us for this important workshop! To effectively plan for handouts and refreshments, please register by Friday, March 1. Contact Emily Harris-Shears, harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us or 406.552.6394 with questions.
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Join us! Fair Housing Workshop for Tenants!
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Join us to learn more about your rights under the Fair Housing Act!
In partnership with the Missoula Tenants Union, the City of Missoula and HUD, Kate Boyd from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity will teach the foundations of Fair Housing for tenants on Thursday, March 14 from 5:30-7:30pm.
You can expect to learn:
- Your rights under the Fair Housing Act
- How to recognize discrimination
- What to do if you’ve experienced discrimination
The workshop will be held at Goodworks Place, 129 Alder St. Parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood and not metered after 5pm.
We hope you can join us for this important workshop! To effectively plan for handouts and refreshments, please register by Tuesday, March 12th. Contact Emily Harris-Shears, harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us or 406.552.6394 with questions.
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Inform the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan by November 30th!
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The Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee and the Community Development Division of Community Planning, Development & Innovation are seeking input on the draft Annual Allocation Plan. The Allocation Plan, informed by the Annual Landscape Assessment is developed by the Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee and approved by the mayor each year to set priorities and goals for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund investment. The Allocation Plan informs competitive award cycles and the reserve balance. Please share your feedback by Thursday, November 30th, 2023.
The Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee will review all public comment received and finalize the Annual Allocation Plan at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 from 6-8pm in the Jack Reidy Room in Council Chambers (140 W Pine St. Missoula, MT 59802) and on Teams. Meetings are public and can be streamed from the City's website. Members of the public are invited to attend and share public comment during the meeting, in addition to sharing written comment prior to the meeting.
If you plan to attend the December 5th meeting and need an accommodation to participate, please contact Emily Harris-Shears, 406.552.6394 or harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us.
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Public Comment Opportunity! Share Your Feedback on the PRO Housing Grant Application
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We want to hear from you!
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has an open grant funding opportunity, Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing). HUD is seeking proposals that identify sound approaches to knock down housing barriers. The City of Missoula is applying for $10,000,000 to focus on activities that prevent housing displacement and strengthen housing access for Missoulians that experience systemic racism.
City staff will present at the October 4th Housing, Redevelopment & Community Programs committee to request that City Council sets a public hearing for Monday, October 23 at 6pm.
Community members can participate in several ways:
Review the application!
1. Attend the committee meeting (10/4 at 1pm) or public hearing (10/23 at 6pm) to provide public comment
2. Share comments/feedback directly in this post
3. Email comments to Emily Harris-Shears, harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us by 10/24/2023
4. Call Emily Harris-Shears, 406.552.6394 with comments by 10/24/202
10/23 Update!
A new version of the PRO Housing Application is available to review. The document is linked on the righthand side under documents and linked here: https://www.engagemissoula.com/6082/widgets/19891/documents/48016.
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Join the Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee!
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The Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee (AHROC) is recruiting a voting member with lived expertise. For this role, lived expertise is defined as someone who is currently receiving support in accessing or maintaining their housing and/or has received support in the last two years. It is the determination of the applicant if they meet the criteria. This role is for a term effective upon appointment through May 31, 2024.
The Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee was created in 2020 to advise on, support and recommend key strategies, including the implementation of the City’s adopted housing policy, A Place to Call Home. One project the AHROC works closely with is the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. While the committee does not oversee all award making of the fund, they advise on priorities and uses of funds through the annual Allocation Plan and Reserve Balance administration. Additionally, the committee supports reaching local housing goals through policy advisement to city staff and Council.
The AHROC has general meetings every other month (2023: February, April, June, August, October, December) on the second Tuesday of the month from 6-8pm. Committee members participate in working groups during months that do not have general meetings.
Applications are due March 17, 2023 by 5pm.
Committee information & application link: https://bm-public-missoula.escribemeetings.com/
Contact Emily Harris-Shears, Harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us or 406.552.6394 with questions!
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Who's Listening
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Phone (406) 552-6394 Email harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us -
Phone (406) 552-6396 Email jamesm@ci.missoula.mt.us
Level of Engagement
Inform: We are giving information to the community.
Consult: We would like the community's opinions and thoughts.
Documents
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AHTF FY 2024 Allocation Plan.pdf (294 KB) (pdf)
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Housing Landscape Assessment Report 2023 (8.79 MB) (pdf)
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What is Area Median Income and Why Does it Matter? (112 KB) (pdf)
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Founding Documents & Updates
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ORD3663_Affordable Housing Trust Fund Ordinance.pdf (61.7 KB) (pdf)
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RES8440_Affordable Housing Trust Fund Resolution.pdf (25.9 KB) (pdf)
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City Housing and Houselessness Programs (246 KB) (pdf)
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A Place to Call Home Implementation Update February 2021 (1.04 MB) (pdf)
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Affordable Housing Trust Fund Community Meeting PowerPoint 1.6.21 (285 KB) (pdf)
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A Place to Call Home Implementation Update October 2020 (105 KB) (pdf)
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Housing Houseless Initiatives Infographic (46.7 KB) (pdf)
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January 2022 - Unified Application Workshop Materials
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PRO Housing Application
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Annual Allocation Plans
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Annual Landscape Assessments
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Policy & Procedures
Videos
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Community Development staff hosted a funding workshop for the open Unified Application Round on Monday, January 10, 2022. Details about the available funding sources and the application process were provided.