The ARPA Commission needs to make housing an integral part of Montana’s post-pandemic recovery plan

Jul 20, 2021


Montana communities across the state are facing significant housing shortages, particularly for households living on lower and moderate incomes. The pandemic brought more attention to this ever-worsening crisis, as families struggle to find a safe, stable, and affordable place to live, employers struggle to hire and keep workers, and communities grapple with growing issues of homelessness. On Wednesday, July 21, the ARPA Economic Transformation and Stabilization and Workforce Development Advisory Commission will meet to discuss upcoming recommendations by the state administration on the use of flexible state COVID relief funds. The Montana Budget & Policy Center, together with 40 organizations, housing providers, and developers as part of the statewide Montana Housing Coalition, submitted a letter urging the state to invest a minimum of $40 million of flexible state fiscal relief funds into the construction and preservation of affordable housing.





Of this $40 million, we urge the Department of Commerce to dedicate at least $30 million in grants for direct financial assistance to fill funding gaps and reduce total development costs for housing projects. These grants will be similar to Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and Housing Development Partnerships Program (HOME) administered by the Montana Housing Division. The Department can prioritize grants used to:









Additionally, we urge the Department of Commerce to dedicate at least $10 million in grants to nonprofit housing partners and service organizations for housing and facilities necessary to provide safe shelters and supportive housing. The Department can prioritize grants used to:









Check out the full letter here. Montana’s State Fiscal Recovery Funds gives the Department of Commerce an unprecedented opportunity to tackle our state’s acute shortage of available and affordable housing and, by doing so, build stronger, resilient communities. We hope Montanans will make their voices heard and urge the ARPA Commission to make housing production an integral part of Montana’s post-pandemic recovery plan.


Montana Budget & Policy Center

Shaping policy for a stronger Montana.

MBPC is a nonprofit organization focused on providing credible and timely research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues that impact low- and moderate-income Montana families.