Housing

In August of 2023, the City Commission requested that City staff coordinate a meeting with local nonprofits and other partners to discuss gaps in support for unhoused community members. Out of this discussion a group of nonprofits formed the Emergency Housing Working Group. The City of Helena has been providing a meeting location and technical support for the Working Group to find solutions to provide emergency housing for the unhoused during the winter months. City and County staff have been in attendance at the working group meetings to provide support and special subject expertise. The Working Group has had discussions on possible locations for winter shelter. 

This Working Group is part of an ongoing larger discussion about finding near and long term solutions to provide permanent and stable emergency shelter.

Recordings

Thursday, August 10, 2023 Commission requested Meeting

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Notes/Agendas

Thursday, August 24, 2023(PDF, 114KB)

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 City-County Joint Work Session Memo(PDF, 139KB)

Thursday, September 7, 2023(PDF, 430KB)

Thursday, September 21, 2023(PDF, 83KB)

Thursday, September 21, 2023 Meeting Notes(PDF, 283KB)

Thursday, October 5, 2023(PDF, 131KB)

Thursday, October 19, 2023(PDF, 71KB)

Thursday, November 2, 2023(PDF, 64KB)

Thursday, November 9, 2023(PDF, 52KB)

Thursday, November 16, 2023(PDF, 62KB)

See Additional Meeting Dates Here

Do you or someone you know own your home and have health or safety related work that needs to be done? The Home Renewal Program is designed to maintain and improve the quality of existing affordable housing stock to keep people housed in decent, safe homes. By partnering with NeighborWorks MT, the City will offer zero interest loans to income eligible borrowers to address health and safety issues, remedy accessibility needs, and address weatherization or energy efficiency deficiencies. The loans can be fully forgiven if the applicant stays in the home for 10 years after the work is completed.

This program is funded through the Montana Department of Commerce’s Housing Stabilization Program, which is a type of Community Development Block Grant.

If you think you have work that could be covered under this program, please contact the Community Development Department for more information at (406)447-8490 or citycommunitydevelopment@helenamt.gov.

Additional Information
Brochure(PDF, 181KB)

Flier(PDF, 110KB)

Home Renewal Program Presentation(PDF, 616KB)

In 2018, the Tri-County Housing Needs Assessment was completed, speaking to housing trends and needs for the wider Helena region, including Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, and Broadwater Counties. There were many key findings of this study, notably that there is extreme tightness in the housing market for housing at all levels of the market. Housing costs have increased substantially, in part as a reflection of the lack of requisite supply to meeting housing demand. Adding to this strain on the housing market is the fact that population growth has been steady, up 11.5% and 6.9% for Helena and Lewis and Clark County, respectively, between 2010 and 2017. Population projection models show this growth is anticipated to continue at similar levels in coming years.

• A copy of the assessment is available here(PDF, 3MB) .

Following the completion of the Housing Needs Assessment, City Staff in cooperation with the Housing Task Force, drafted a housing strategy to carry out the goals and actions from the Needs Assessment. The Housing Task Force meets on a monthly basis to discuss and advise on housing related matters in the greater Helena Area with support from City Staff. The Task Force is comprised of staff from adjacent county Planning Divisions, local non-profits (including Helena Housing Authority), and private sector stakeholders.

Additional Information
2019 City of Helena Housing Strategy(PDF, 314KB)

Land Use Regulation Housing Impediments Memo(PDF, 84KB)