Handful of Montana counties decline state investment in affordable workforce housing

HELENA, Mont. — NBC Montana reported when Flathead County commissioners voted not to accept state funding for affordable workforce housing. Now, we’re digging into the history of the bill and looking into which counties decided not to take part.

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Former State Rep. Paul Green (R-Hardin) introduced House Bill 819 in 2023, highlighting a housing crisis across Montana and saying the bill would help combat hyperinflation on workforce housing.

“This program takes those making between 60 to 140% of average median household income, which today equates to nearly $60,000 a year,” Green said on March 24, 2023. “Allows them to leverage the maximum amount of mortgage allowance with a deed-restricted mortgage in order to make housing affordable.”

The House and Senate both passed the bill in April 2024, and Gov. Greg Gianforte officially signed the bill into law on June 14, 2023.

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Out of 56 counties in Montana, six decided not to participate:

• Flathead
• Granite
• Sweet Grass
• Fallon
• Richland did not put bill on agenda
• Daniels did not put bill on agenda

NBC Montana reached out to McCone and Sheridian counties and never received a response on what they decided.

Counties that voted no gave reasons like the bill not being beneficial to the county or not being fair to everyone.

“It’s not going to be equal,” said Granite County Commissioner Chuck Hinkle during a Dec. 17 meeting. “The people that don’t know about it or haven’t heard about it, don’t get into it and this money is gone. I mean it’s just not fair.”

The remaining 48 counties voted to take the funding, contingent on a local community match.

Those county officials cited rising home prices along with population growth and help for those trying to buy a home.

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“We’re looking at the starting teachers salary that would fit in here,” said Butte-Silver Bow Commissioner John Riordan during a Dec. 4 meeting. “We are looking at the people that are working at the hospital. Some of them that work at the rest homes and stuff like that with a dream of owning a home, so it’s a win-win situation in all of that.”

NeighborWorks Montana will be the community reinvestment organization for 13 counties:

• Beaverhead
• Fergus
• Gallatin
• Judith Basin
• Lake
• Lewis and Clark
• Lincoln
• Mineral
• Missoula
• Musselshell
• Park
• Powell
• Sanders

NeighborWorks Montana will be matching $22,343,853.

NeighborWorks Montana Great Falls will be the community reinvestment organization for seven counties:

• Cascade
• Choteau
• Teton
• Toole
• Blaine
• Glacier
• Pondera

NeighborWorks Montana Great Falls will be matching $5,230,000.

NBC Montana will continue working for you to cover housing costs around the state.