A Place to Call Home: Meeting Missoula's Housing Needs

Do you Want to Influence Affordable Housing Development in Missoula?

The Community Development Division of Community Planning, Development & Innovation is recruiting members for the Affordable Housing Citizen Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee is an important component of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, adopted by City Council on July 20, 2020. The committee will create funding policies and priorities to impact affordable housing development for years to come. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund is an ongoing funding source to meet affordable housing needs and community goals.

Recruitment for members is open from Wednesday, January 6, 2021 through Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 5pm.

Key role and application details are included below, visit the committee page for the full role description.

Citizen Oversight Committee Role:

The Citizen Oversight Committee will oversee key functions of the Trust Fund. Key Functions include approving the administrative policies and the annual Allocation Plan. The Citizen Oversight Committee will not make funding decisions for every project supported by the Trust Fund.

Membership Structure and Appointment Process:

Affordable Housing Citizen Oversight Committee Membership includes 11 total members:

• Nine (9) voting members
• Two (2) alternates

• Three voting members include:
  1. The mayor or designee
  2. The president of City Council or designee
  3. Executive director of Missoula Housing Authority or designee
• Three (3) community members
  1. Two (2) community members who are currently or have within the last two years received some form of help in securing their housing
• One (1) representative from a housing non-profit
• One (1) representative from the field of housing or real estate
• One (1) representative from the field of banking and/or finance

Alternate members do not vote, they participate in committee discussions and share perspective.

How to Apply:

Missoula area residents of all skill and knowledge backgrounds should apply. Community Planning, Development & Innovation staff will work with new members to support successful orientation.

Applicants have several options for submitting an application:

1. Apply online
2. Download application (PDF) Drop off* or mail a hard copy (hand-written or typed) to City Clerk, 435 Ryman Street, Missoula, MT. 59802
3. Email completed application to CityClerk@ci.missoula.mt.us
4. Submit a verbal application if you are unable to complete a written application. Contact Emily Harris-Shears, harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us or (406) 552-6394.

Applications in all formats are due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

*Please note the City Clerk Office is currently closed to the public. There is a drop box located at the entrance to City Hall where you can place materials.

Contact Emily Harris-Shears with questions, harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us or (406) 552-6394.

The Community Development Division of Community Planning, Development & Innovation invites you to a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 from 6-7:30pm to hear updates on planning for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund following City Council’s adoption in July 2020, including the upcoming selection process for the Affordable Housing Citizen Oversight Committee. Community members are invited to join to learn more and share feedback on the planning and process to date.

Please contact Emily Harris-Shears, harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us or 406.552.6394 with questions.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Community Meeting

Date: Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Time: 6:00-7:30 PM

Location: https://ci-missoula-mt.zoom.us/j/82587022740?pwd=VmFETnAxVDRVWkQxTWZVUmRUSU5nUT09

On Monday, July 20, 2020 City Council adopted the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Ordinance and Funding Commitments Resolution. A primary implementation goal of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is to seat the Citizen Oversight Committee, infused with community participation.

The Community Development Division of Community Planning, Development & Innovation is seeking 7-10 community members to join an ad hoc working group to review and finalize the application and recommend interview questions for the Citizen Oversight Committee appointment process. The working group will meet 2-3 times via Zoom in December to accomplish two primary tasks. The group will review and approve the application and develop a slate of recommended interview questions. These products will be provided to the elected officials who will make Affordable Housing Citizen Oversight Committee appointments.

To avoid conflicts of interest, community members interested in joining the ad hoc working group may not apply for the Citizen Oversight Committee.

If you’re interested in participating in this working group please contact Emily Harris-Shears, by Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 5pm. Working group members will be added in order of contact until maximum participation of ten (10) participants is reached.

Emily Harris-Shears

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Administrator

Harris-shearse@ci.missoula.mt.us

(406) 552-6394

Emily Harris-Shears joined the Office of Housing & Community Development on October 26 as the City's Affordable Housing Trust Fund Administrator. Emily will lead the formation of the trust fund, including establishing administrative policies, forming the Citizen Oversight Committee, and piloting the allocation of funds. Emily has a background in working with federal, state, and local systems to find innovative solutions to homelessness and affordable housing challenges. She received her Masters of Social Work with an emphasis in Policy, Advocacy, and Community from Arizona State University. She is excited to join the team and get to work helping to increase affordable housing in Missoula.

On Monday, July 20, 2020 City Council adopted the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Ordinance and Funding Commitments Resolution. For more details see the City Council Action Summary here. Stay tuned to this project page for more implementation updates from A Place to Call Home!

City Council opened a one-week public hearing starting on Monday. July 13th. This hearing, which closes on Monday, July 20th, adds to the more than a month of conversations with the public about the proposed Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Comment here on this thread, or check out City Council's Citizen Participation Guide for other ways to give us your thoughts.

City Council is holding a public hearing on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund ordinance and resolution on Monday, July 13th. All public hearings remain open for one week before final Council action. Remember to provide your comments here on Engage Missoula by Friday, July 17th. You can watch the public meeting online. Find more information here!

City Council's Committee of the Whole will hear its first presentation on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund establishing ordinance and a funding commitments resolution on June 17, 2020. Establishing the trust fund through ordinance is our first administrative step at laying the groundwork for most of the other policies and recommendations in A Place to Call Home. Please leave your comments on the proposed Trust Fund documents here!