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

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!