Policy work, networking drive housing conference

SHELTERING
MONTANA
FAMILIES
NEWS
SUMMER EDITION 2014
Policy work, networking
drive housing conference
About 180 people gathered in Miles City in May for
the annual Statewide Housing Conference, where
they were involved in animated policy discussions,
professional networking and in-depth training.
Governor Steve Bullock addressed the crowd at the
opening plenary and stressed the importance of
housing and infrastructure in the eastern part of the
state so that jobs could continue to flourish.
“I’m going to steal a line from Sheila Rice (Executive
Director of NeighborWorks Montana, one of the
conference sponsors). ‘Home is where jobs go to
sleep.’ I agree. With no houses available, workers have
no place to live,” the Governor related.
The conference’s theme, Home on the Range:
Montana Housing Opportunities, attracted investors
and developers, housing professionals from many
nonprofit organizations, tribal representatives,
state government trainers and grant coaches and
representatives from financial institutions and real
estate professionals.
Experts from North Dakota offered insight into the
Bakken oil boom and the pressure it has put on the
area’s housing and infrastructure. Several municipal
officials and economic development experts from
eastern Montana discussed the effects that the Bakken
boom is having on their small communities. Jolene
Kline, Executive Director of the North Dakota Housing
Finance Agency, the keynote speaker, shared a tool
her department uses to fund more affordable housing.
North Dakota’s Housing Incentive Fund spurred
several Montanans to begin discussing whether such a
Conference, continued on page 10
Venture Capital fund supports
statewide need with investment
Thanks to Good Works Ventures for
their recent $250,000 investment in
NeighborWorks Montana’s loan fund. A Montana-based
venture capital fund, Good Works Ventures “invests in
companies with high impact solutions to challenging
problems.” The funds provided will support all of
NeighborWorks Montana’s loan programs but the
investment was made with particular interest in our
work with Resident Owned Communities – supporting
residents of manufactured home communities to help
them form cooperatives and buy their land.
Dawn McGee of Good Works Ventures said, “We were
very excited to be asked to participate in helping
NeighborWorks to provide land security and cooperative
ownership for some of the most vulnerable housing in
the state.”
NWMT Statewide Director of Operations Maureen Rude
said, “As we expand our lending products and portfolio
we must find new sources of capital to grow our loan
fund. This investment from Good Works Ventures is
the first of what we hope will be many similar private
investments, diversifying our capital streams and
expanding our lending capacity. ”
SAVE THE DATE
The Annual Montana Housing Conference
will be held on June 9, 10 and 11, 2015, at the
GranTree Inn in Bozeman, Montana
Join Montana’s housing professionals, funders
and advocates for an action packed agenda.
Watch for updates on nwmt.org and housing.mt.gov
When we were young, my Dad planted maple tree
saplings in the yard in honor of each of his five kids. These
trees today reach full and straight 60 to 80 feet into the
By Michael M. O’Neil
sky — full grown like my siblings and me, whom they
Board Chair, NeighborWorks Montana
honor. For me, these trees represent the rootedness
Program Officer, AWARE Inc.
that a Home provides a family and everyone who shares
Why is the work of NeighborWorks MT
life there. Rootedness, the sense that you belong,
so vitally important? For me it is quite
strengthens you against the strong challenging winds life
simple: it all begins with Home. Whether can throw at you. No doubt life can be hard, but with the
I look at my own life and that of my
strength that a stable Home provides, you learn you can
family; or the lives of the persons and
bend and not break in the face of adversity.
families I have worked with at AWARE
My Dad sold our house a few years ago before he passed
creating housing opportunities for people with disabilities;
away, and so another family lives out its family dreams of
I know to my core that this is true: HOME matters.
Home there today. Still, my sense of Home still remains in
When I look over my life and the lives of my family, I realize
my heart and provides me a strong foundation.
our happiness and our successes grow from the strong
The sense of Home I gained allowed my wife and I to
foundation that a stable Home provided us all. You really can’t create our own family Home for our children here in
overestimate the influence of Home on your life. Having the
Montana. Now that our own daughters are taking flight
reliable safety and security of the sheltering Home, and the
into the larger world, we hope that they have gained the
developmental nurturing warmth of Home. Home is the basis same solid grounding on which to confidently go forth to
of success in school and in work.
build full lives and their own Homes in the
Having a Home is the ultimate
future. And so it goes, because ultimately
safety net — as Robert Frost wrote:
Home is the fruit of our lives.
“Home is the place where, when
Yet too many of our fellow citizens here
you have to go there, they have to
in Montana and across the country are
take you in.” This security is vitally
without a stable and affordable Home that
important during life transitions
is so critically important to my family. We
when, although you may never
cannot ignore that the lack of affordable
move back home again, the fact
housing means that many of our citizens
that you know you could if you
are blocked from gaining the housing they
needed to gives you the confidence
need to create their own sense of Home
My Family Home
to take the risks necessary to seek
and building a foundation of success for
opportunity and life possibilities.
themselves and their family. Home is the bedrock of a
Home makes all the difference.
strong community, state, and nation. We cannot ignore the
I am grateful to my Mom and Dad for the Home they provided affordable housing needs of so many. We need to give folks
us — my five brothers and sisters. We moved into the family
the tools to obtain a Home of their own.
Home I knew when I was only an infant. All my memories
That is why I give my time and money to NeighborWorks
are there — the love and the madness — all my childhood
Montana. NWMT provides the necessary tools on which
milestones to adulthood through to having my own family
strong homes can be built, including
and children, and eventually my own Home. I experienced
• the education and knowledge; and
the fabric of life there — all the holidays, baptisms, birthdays,
• the financing and development support, which allows
graduations, weddings, and funerals.
thousands of Montana families the opportunity to
At Home, you get to learn the truths of life; I learned to think
obtain affordable housing (homeownership, rentals,
of others, especially the alone and lonely, because my Mom
and manufactured housing).
always made room for guests at our table and in our Home.
NeighborWorks Montana ultimately offers Montanans the
She did this especially at holidays, particularly for folks she
chance to create the incredibly important sense of Home
met who otherwise would have had no other place to go.
and stability. NWMT is in the Home Building business
I was remarkably lucky to have had the same family Home
in the largest sense — creating the affordable housing
throughout most of my life — nearly 50 years at 204 Norton
opportunities that families and individuals need to
Road. The woods, mountains, and streams there were the
create their own dream of Home, whatever that may be.
setting of my first adventures. Our Home saw all of us leave,
Please join me in supporting NWMT in helping our fellow
and return with spouses, new grandchildren, and eventually
Montanans obtain stable, affordable housing and a chance
great-grandchildren to the point it was like the clown cars at
at creating a Home of their own.
the circus with all of us spilling out of the house at holidays.
Because Home truly matters.
It All Begins with Home
2
Missoula mom finds perfect home
for her family with HRC’s help
Kristi Reed, a single mother, had grown tired of squeezing her family of five
into a two bedroom apartment. Kristi worked full time and managed her
finances well, yet just paying bills and putting food on the table used up her
paycheck each month.
She contacted her financial institution and filled out a loan application.
Kristi was excited to find out that she and her family qualified for a loan;
however the amount was not enough to get them a house big enough to
accommodate the needs of a family of five.
Discouraged and close to giving up, Kristi got a tip from her lender to take
Homebuyer Education and learn about other resources that may be available.
She describes the course as “the adventure that would change my life forever”.
After the class, Kristi met with Shera Carlascio, who works as a homeownership
counselor for Missoula’s Human Resource Development organization, and together
they filled out paperwork. Shera was able to tell Kristi that her buying power had
increased by $30,000, since she qualified for down-payment assistance, and she was
also savvy enough to enter Kristi and her family into a new program that included
Rural Development loans, allowing Kristi a 30-year mortgage with a 0% interest.
After a long search, Kristi’s Realtor found her a “diamond in the rough”. Kristi and
her boyfriend, a contractor, were able to make it her dream home. She describes the
closing day as “the best day of my life”.
“Although the experience of buying my first home stretched my fears and
patience further than I had ever thought possible, I now own a home that my
family will love and enjoy for many years to come. Without the help of HRC’s
Kristi’s new home
down payment assistance I would never have been able to afford a home - let
alone my dream home. I will be forever grateful to Shera and the staff at HRC
for making this experience so amazing for me. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!” ~ Kristi Reed
Group seeks legislators’ help with housing
The Montana Coalition for Housing and Infrastructure is made up of housing developers, housing
advocates, businesses and those that need housing who have come together to be the voice for
housing in the Montana Capitol.
In September and October of 2014, the Coalition will sponsor candidate forums throughout the state to educate legislative
candidates on Montana’s housing crisis, the connection between economic development and the number of available homes,
and the impact of the lack of decent, affordable housing on the low-income, the workforce, senior citizens, those with
disabilities, ex-prisoners and veterans.
Montana’s lack of affordable, decent housing hurts everyone. Businesses cannot start or grow without homes for their
workforce. Veterans remain homeless or living in poor conditions when there are no homes available. Senior citizens are
trapped in their aging, dangerous homes because no accessible alternatives exist for them to move to. Young families are
denied the wealth-building features of homeownership if there are no affordable homes to purchase. Ex-prisoners are more
likely to return to prison if they cannot find decent, affordable housing. Persons with disabilities are unable to live in their
home communities due to lack of afforable homes. Police and sheriff departments continually deal with homeless individuals
and homeless shelters are filled to the brim because individuals and families have nowhere else to turn, when there are no
affordable, decent apartments available.
Home Matters! A stable home, rented or owned, is proven to yield better life outcomes for families and individuals. Stability
means healthier families, less likely to be involved in the criminal justice systems, more likely to succeed in school, and much
more likely to build savings toward the future. Support the Montana Coalition for Housing and Infrastructure by becoming
a member today at www.mtchi.org.
3
New Counselors join the Montana Network
There has been a lot of change for North Central RC&D (NCRCD) over the last
few months. Danielle O’Neill took over in April as the new RC&D Administrator/
Home Buyer Education Director, replacing LaDonna Grotbo. Danielle was raised
in the Belgrade/Bozeman area. In 2011 she moved with
her family to Shelby. She has two young boys, who
are “all boy all the time”. Danielle enjoys working in
her yard, decorating her home, reading, and watching
documentaries. Her professional background consists
mainly of marketing and administrative experience.
She has a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Danielle is happy at
NCRCD and is looking forward to getting to know her
partners across the state.
Danielle O’Neill
Home Buyer Education from NCRCD will start up again
this summer. Danielle will be teaching two eight hour
classes each month in different towns within NCRCD’s
service area. Danielle is keeping NCRCD’s website
and Facebook page updated with the latest on new
projects and services, and class schedules.
Along with hiring Danielle, NCRCD has uprooted the
entire operation. The agency has moved, and is now
up and running in its new location on Main Street in Shelby, directly beneath the
Shelby Chamber of Commerce building.
Colleen Phillips
After 15 years in the financial
sector, Colleen Philips resigned
her position with a national
investment firm on order to care
for her mother. While bringing
her to the senior center, at
Rocky Mountain Development
Corporation (RMDC) in Helena,
Colleen was offered a position as
the Senior Center Coordinator,
which would allow her to
work while she cared for her
mother. After getting her mom
settled into an assisted living
facility, Colleen was offered
the Homebuyer Education
position at Rocky and accepted
it in conjunction with her other
responsibilities.
Colleen has enjoyed the
training she has received at
NeighborWorks Training Institutes
and plans to use that training to
expand services to address the
housing needs in Helena.
Colleen and her husband,
Tim, just celebrated their 30th
anniversary. They have two
children. Their son, Nathan, is
working on his PhD at Brown
University, and their daughter,
Chelsy, is a nurse in Missoula.
Colleen loves to hike and recently
got to hike into Kalaupapa on the
island of Molokai.
Colleen said she feels lucky to be
part of the Montana partnership
and to be working with individuals
who are making a difference in
their communities. “I am proud
to be on this team,” she said.
4
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT_for_Montana_Shares,_a_partnership_of_
Montana-based_nonprofit_groups_dedicated_to_improving_the_quality_
of_life_in_communities_throughout_the_state._Enter_to_win_one_of_the_28
fabulous_prizes.
www.montanashares.org
Helena Holiday
RAFFLE!
20th Annual
A_one_night’s_lodging_in_a_Deluxe_King_room_for_2_
including_the_breakfast_bar_at_and_donated_by_Best_
Western_Premiere_Helena_Great_Northern_Hotel._
(YCC)
Four_premium_tickets_to_the_Nutcracker_Ballet_
performance_by_Queen_City_Ballet_Company_in_Helena_
in_December_2014._(QCBC)
A_Montana_Breakfast_Basket_with_baked_goodies,_jams,_
jellies_and_honey.__Also_including_coffee,_tea_and_
fantastic_serving_items.(REO)
Brew for Hope
_“Brew_for_Hope”_coffee_basket_-_“Strength_in_Numbers”_
Coffee_Mugs,_“Brew_for_Hope”_Whole_Bean_
Coffee,_“Brew_for_Hope”_ground_coffee,_handmade_
Awareness_Bracelet,_bag_of_Bequet_Carmels,_coffee_
kitchen_towels,_coffee_scoop,_muffin/bread_mixes._
(CSCMT)
Fishing Fun
Cabela’s_RLS+_Rod_and_Reel_combo.__The_RLS+_
is_Cabela’s_highest_quality_rod_and_reel_package.__
The_high-performance_RLS+_reel_has_machined_
aluminum_construction,_anodized_to_withstand_rough_
use,_a_large_arbor_and_adjustable_disc_drag.__The_
RLS+_rod_has_moderate/fast_action,_a_machinealuminum_reel_seat,_and_high_quality_components.__
The_9_foot,_5_weight_combo_is_perfect_for_Montana_
rivers_and_streams._(MWF)
MSU Net Nights
For_the_2014-15_season-_2_seats_each_at_one_of_the_
MSU_Women’s_Basketball,_Men’s_Basketball,_and_
Volleyball_games_(Excludes_Cat/Griz_games)_(M4HF)
$50_Gas_Card_(GFCFB)
One_night_stay_at_and_donated_by_the_Hilton_Garden_Inn_
in_Bozeman.(DRM)
Explore the Cats
For_the_2014-15_season-_2_seats_each_at_one_of_the_
MSU_Women’s_Basketball_games_and_Volleyball_game_
(Excludes_Cat/Griz_games)_(M4HF)
A_Family_Membership_to_ExplorationWorks,_an_
ExplorationWorks_coffee_mug_with_a_free_drink_ticket_
and_2_Finger_Puppets_-_1_bobcat_and_1_griz!_(ExWorks)
$50_Gas_Card_(GFCFB)
 Butte Fun & Food
$110_gift_certificate_to_Fred’s_Mesquite_Grill_in_
Butte._(MCCRRN)
A_custom_90_minute_tour_for_2_of_Uptown_Butte_with_Butte_
Urban_Safari_tours_in_a_“tricked_out”_safari_golf_cart,_
$15_gift_certificate_to_Park_Street_Pasties_and_$15_gift_
certificate_to_Hennessy_Market_in_Butte,_MT._(Mai_Wah)
 Going to the Birds in Helena
An_elegant_overnight_stay_at_and_donated_by_The_
Sanders_–_Helena’s_Bed_and_Breakfast._(HAHFH)
One_full-festival_registration_for_Montana_Audubon’s_16th_
Annual_Wings_Across_the_Big_Sky_June_5-7,_2015_in_
Helena!_Also_included_is_the_exquisite_book_Rhapsody
in Blue – A Celebration of North American Waterbirds._
(MA)
Pets and Pampering
$100_gift_certificate_for_retail_goods,_adoptions,_summer_
camp_registration,_or_dog_training_classes_at_Heart_of_the_
Valley_Animal_Shelter._(HOV)
A_set_of_4_high_ball_drink_classes_in_cut_glass_with_
customized_inlay_of_a_dog_on_each_one._Beauty_Basket_
with_skin_and_face_products_from_Skin_Chic,_NIA-24_sun_
screen_and_exfoliate,_Merle_Norman_Lip_care_set_and_a_
Lisa_Archer_silk_scarf._(AM)
Drape Yourself in Luxury
A_delicate,_hand-crafted_“Super_Kid_Mohair”_and_silk_
scarf._Drapes_beautifully_and_done_in_an_elegant_color_
combination._(NWMT)
A_basket_with_products_by_Vapour_Organic_Beauty,_which_
revolutionizes_luxury_and_performance_cosmetics_with_
pure_organic_formulation._Included_are_sweets_from_The_
Montana_Chocolate_Company,_Stevensville,_MT._(MMP)
4_beautiful_hand_made_beads_and_chains_from_Bonnifide_
Designs,_each_a_dimensional_floral_design_in_four_
different_color_patterns._(MSNTF)
Wine with Woodsy Notes
Woodblock_artist_Claire_Emery’s_notecards._Claire_is_
an_artist_and_naturalist_who_creates_bold,_exquisitely_
detailed,_narrative_woodblock_prints._(ALA)
Three_bottles_of_wine_along_with_two_Arrowhead_Shaped_
Silver_Medallions_-__1_troy_oz_custom_minted_in_.999_fine_
silver._(SAF)
DRAWING TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
Suggested donation $10 per ticket, or 3 tickets for $25. Need not be present to win.
To enter the Montana Shares raffle, enter your information and return tickets to the address on back.
Name_________________________________
Name_________________________________
Name_________________________________
Address_______________________________
Address_______________________________
Address_______________________________
City/State/Zip___________________________
City/State/Zip___________________________
City/State/Zip___________________________
Phone_#_______________________________
Phone_#_______________________________
Phone_#_______________________________
NeighborWorks Montana
Credit_donation_to:_______________________
(member_group_listed_on_back)
_
NeighborWorks Montana
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(member_group_listed_on_back)
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NeighborWorks Montana
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(member_group_listed_on_back)
_
5
Colorful_African_design_basket_by_Samba_Daramy_of_
Washington,_a_woman’s_hat_made_by_SweaterHeads_
of_Oregon,_a_man’s_hat_by_Wizbang_Hats_of_
Bozeman_and_2_insulated_Kleen_Kanteens_steel_
water_bottles._(MAB)
Inspiring_artworks_crafted_by_people_with_intellectual_
and_developmental_disabilities._(AWARE)
An_original_framed_black_and_white_photograph_of_a_
peaceful_scene_on_Holland_Lake,_photographed_by_
well-known_Missoula_photographer,_Tony_Cesare,_
signed_by_the_artist._(JRPC)
Abundance_of_Montana_basket_featuring_Montanagrown_and_processed_products_donated_by_AERO_
farmer_and_rancher_members_from_across_the_state._
(AERO)
An_unframed,_28”X22”_Hush of the Land_limited_
edition_Monte_Dolack_print_featuring_the_Scapegoat_
Wilderness.__(MWA)
A_Pendleton_60x60_Mesquite_Throw_with_leather_
carrier._(LCCPW)
A_framed_photograph_and_gift_cards_by_Kitty_Kolden._
(NARAL)
A_beautiful_handmade_quilt_done_in_fall_colors._(CHC)
Framed_wildlife_art,_Pintails,_featuring_a_pair_of_flying_
pintail_ducks,_by_Ken_Carlson._Donated_by_MWCC_
Chair,_Laura_Andersen;_and_a_$15_gift_certificate_at_
and_donated_by_Birds_&_Beasleys,_Helena._(MWCC)
$250_contribution_to_a_new_or_existing_529_Account_with_
the_Montana_Family_Education_Savings_Program._
(SAF)
Brown_silk_monks_bag,_brown_silk_scarf,_and_beaded_
necklace.__Donated_by_Monkey_Business._(BC)
Ornate_Tibetan_amber_and_bone_art_deco_necklace._
(LCHS)
A_light_blue_and_black_lidded_jar_by_the_artist_Kevin_
Waller._(HMA)
A_$100_gift_card_to_Town_Pump._(MAB)
A_gift_basket_of_Montana_grown_food_products._(MFBN)
An_original_etched_glass_art_piece_designed_and_
created_by_Boone_Dalton_of_Helena,_MT_(KM)
Thanks to all the businesses and friends who donated
prizes to the Montana Shares 2014 raffle.
Donations help promote the work of these nonprofits:
(The member group that coordinated their prize is noted in parenthesis after each description.)
Montana_Shares_(MS)
Alternative_Energy_Resources_Organization___
(AERO)
American_Lung_Association_in_Montana_(ALA)
AniMeals_(AM)
A.W.A.R.E.,_Inc._(AWARE)
Big_Brothers_Big_Sisters_of_Montana_
(BBBSMT)
Bridgercare (BC)
Cancer_Support_Community_Montana(CSCMT)
Cooperative_Health_Center,_Inc._(CHC)
Disabilty_Rights_Montana_(DRM)
ExplorationWorks_(EXWORKS)
Great_Falls_Community_Food_Bank,_Inc._
(GFCFB)
Heart_of_the_Valley,_Inc._(HOV)
Helena_Area_Habitat_for_Humanity_(HAHFH)
Holter_Museum_of_Art,_Inc._(HMA)
Jeannette_Rankin_Peace_Center_(JRPC)
Komen_Montana_(KM)
Last_Chance_Community_Pow_Wow_(LCCPW)
Lewis_&_Clark_Humane_Society_(LCHS)
Mai_Wah_Society,_Inc._(MAIWAH)
Montana_4-H_Foundation,_Inc._(M4HF)
Montana_Association_for_the_Blind,_Inc._(MAB)
Montana_Audubon_(MA)
Montana_Child_Care_Resource_&_Referral__
Network,_Inc._(MCCRRN)
Montana_Food_Bank_Network,_Inc._(MFBN)
To_enter_the_Montana_Shares_
raffle,_enter_your_information_
and_return_your_tickets,_along_
with_any_
donation_to:
Montana_Shares
PO_Box_883
Helena,_MT_59624
Visit_Montana_Shares__
online_to_learn_more_and_
print_more_ticket_sheets:
montanashares.org
Drawing_will_be_
held_on__
Saturday,_
September_6,_
2014
Thank you for
supporting Montana
Shares!
Montana_Meth_Project_(MMP)
Montana_Spay/Neuter_Task_Force_(MSNTF)
Montana_Watershed_Coordination_Council_
(MWCC)
Montana_Wilderness_Association_(MWA)
Montana_Wildlife_Federation_(MWF)
NARAL_Pro-Choice_Montana_Foundation_
(NARAL)
NeighborWorks_Montana_(NWMT)
Queen_City_Ballet_Company_(QCBC)
Rural_Employment_Opportunities_(REO)
Student_Assistance_Foundation_of_Montana_
(SAF)
Youth_Connections_Coalition_(YCC)
Printing by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana
6
$10_per_ticket,_or__
3_tickets_for_$25
(406)_442-2218
[email protected]
The_Continental_Divide_Trail_Picnic_Package:_Two_Crazy_
Creek_Chairs,_Two_CDT_Pint_Glasses,_a_CDT_Map,_a_
MWA_Totebag,_and_a_bottle_of_wine._(MWA)
A_made_in_Montana_Gift_basket._(BBBSMT)
Suggested_
donation_
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Three housing advocates were honored
at the Statewide Housing Conference
in Miles City recently with Lifetime
Achievement Awards.
Mary Lou Affleck
Coordinator for Project
Development
NeighborWorks Montana
Mary Lou has spent her
entire adult life working
in professions that touch
housing and low-income
families. She has had
three distinct careers –
USDA, Fannie Mae and
NeighborWorks Montana.
Presenter Bruce Brensdal,
director of the Montana
Board of Housing, said Mary
Lou’s volunteer resume is
powerful, and reflects her
commitment to low-income
families and their housing
needs. She is very good at
creating partnerships to
solve problems, and her high
energy and persistence help
her get things done.
Melissa Hartman
Administrator
Housing Authority
of Miles City
Melissa was credited with
a sense of vision and a
lot of hard work to take a
dilapidated building and
turn it into an amazing
multi-family complex. The
Cornerstone project became
a capstone in Melissa’s long,
dynamic career in Miles City.
Also at the conference, all of
the many partners who had
a hand in rehabilitating the
Cornerstone were honored
with plaques and thank-yous.
Paul Groshart
Executive Director
Richland County Housing
Authority, Sidney
Paul has spent his life in
helping low- and moderateincome families thrive in
northeastern Montana.
He also is coping now with
housing shortages borne of
the Bakken boom.
His plaque reads, “We thank
you for your unflagging
commitment and dedication
to your work in affordable
housing and to your entire
community.”
7
Partners honored for body of work
At the NeighborWorks Montana Partner meeting, held at Fairmont in July, many partner staff members
received awards for their great work. The counselors, educators and lenders were nominated by their
peers for the awards. The names of the awards and the words are from the nomination received.
Pat Hilgendorf, NeighborWorks Montana lender,
was given the “Best Answer-Giver and All Around
Great Resource” award. Pat does an awesome job of explaining the Individual Development
Account program -- what is expected as well as the rewards of the program. She could also
be nominated for serving as the 20+ guru or HOME guru, as she did a lot of visiting with
lenders in preparation of this loan program as well as work with the different counties in the
state on the HOME program. Her commitment to all programs within NWMT is very visible.
Darrell Lamere, Homebuyer Educator at
Homeword’s Billings office, received the “Most
Inspiring Educator Ever” award. He is passionate
about helping people, especially low-moderate income people, become homeowners. He
inspires them to believe they can achieve their dream of homeownership and he gives them
to tools to make that dream become a reality. He has also dedicated himself to increasing
the rate of homeownership among Native Americans, and he works to provide advocacy,
outreach and education to help Native Americans obtain the tools and confidence for longterm asset building for Native families and communities.
Beverly Johnston, with Human Resources
District IX in Bozeman, got the “Queen of
Caring and Compassionate Counseling”
award. She has a tremendously big heart and gives of herself without limits. She considerately
coaches elderly who are confused, looking out for folks by going way beyond the call of
duty to meet with them and assisting them with whatever they need. (Their mail sorted?
Their house cleaned?) In one example, an elderly couple that she had assisted previously
and prevented a foreclosure, once again was in danger of losing their home for not paying
$900 in property taxes. She made the right phone calls and got the right connections so
that a completely anonymous stranger paid that $900 for them. Beverly treats every person
with compassion and respect, brings a high level of competence, and expertly navigates
complicated systems, while always keeping the bigger picture in mind. She is respected,
trusted and cherished by both the customers whose lives she touches and her coworkers.
Nicole Grafel, with Rural Dynamics, Inc., in
Bozeman, was the recipient of the “Conqueror
and Slayer of Default Mortgages” award.
She’s always willing to try for her clients, whether it’s stopping a garnishment or trying for a
modification regardless of how complicated the situation is. She never tells her client that
it’s too late to get help. She gets the Attorney General’s office involved and sees results
that much sooner. If it’s teaching classes, meeting with businesses, financial counseling, or
attending community events, she has been a fantastic liaison to our clients, spreading her
knowledge and perseverance in her community. She’s one of the best foreclosure counselors
in the state, spreading the word through success stories of her clients’ triumphs.
8
Val Smith of Beartooth Resource Conservation
and Development in Joliet was awarded the
“Garden of Zen” prize. Val is always happy
and a pleasure to work with, and always is
genuinely interested in the wellbeing of the
people she comes into contact with every day.
Val has been a great asset in the development
of the Billings Home Center. She is becoming
a snowbird next winter and we will miss her
expertise.
The “Master Wizard of Foreclosure Prevention” award was given to Crystal Young, a
counselor in the Butte office of Rural Dynamics, Inc. She displays an air of excellence in
her work, taking every client as a personal mission to better the community she lives in
and puts herself wholeheartedly into her work. She is an amazing asset to all of Montana
with her knowledge, dedication, and passion for its inhabitants.
Kaia Peterson, the Deputy Director of Statewide Operations
of NWMT, received the “Classy Co-worker” award. She
hit the ground running, absorbing massive amounts of information in an extremely short
amount of time. The amount of work on her plate is extensive, but her efficient work
style, cool attitude, and exquisite organizational skills make nothing ever feel rushed, but
everything is finished with grace in a timely manner. She was elected to a national board
(ROC USA) within 6 months of starting – the whole housing world realizes how great she is.
She demonstrates a great sense of humor in the face of all types of adversity.
9
Conference, continued from front page
times your answers have helped me
through a problem file.”
program could work here.
The days were filled with breakout
sessions, informative luncheon
speakers, specialized trainings and
other professional opportunities to
learn.
However, almost to a person,
attendees stressed the importance
of the days of networking with other
industry professionals.
One developer said it was very
rewarding to have all of the players
in the same room. “I have made
arrangements to pursue two deals
already today,” he said.
Another attendee was overheard
telling his staff in the home office, “I
can’t come back today. I’m meeting
with all kinds of people, so I’m going
to stay another night.”
Bruce Brensdal, Governor Steve
Bullock, and Sheila Rice
Organizing staff agreed that while
attendees praised the educational
opportunities and all of the breakout
sessions, they overwhelmingly
agreed that the time to exchange
information with others in the same
field was the most valuable takeaway from the conference.
The attendee surveys from the last
housing conference indicated that
people did not want the sessions
scheduled too close together. They
asked for more networking time, and
the organizing committee responded.
Next year’s conference will be in
Bozeman at the GranTree and will
again set aside specific time for
colleagues to connect with others
and discuss policy issues or specific
business deals.
Shyla Patera and George Northcutt,
Also, vendors will have more spacious
A lender and a loan servicer who had
North Central Independent
accommodations for their displays,
spoken on the phone many times
Living Services
and the plenary room will be larger.
but had never met in person ran into
each other in a training session at the conference and
Interested sponsors for the 2015 Statewide Housing
exchanged cell numbers. “It is so great to finally meet
Conference should call Sheila Rice at NeighborWorks
you,” one said to the other. “I can’t tell you how many
Montana at 866-587-2244.
Get information about the 2014 conference at http://housing.mt.gov/2014housingconferencematerials.mcpx
NeighborWorks Montana honors Stockman Bank, officers
Stockman Bank and bank officers Dave Zoanni and Alan Holom were honored by
NeighborWorks Montana at a recent event in Miles City in conjunction with the annual
Statewide Housing Conference. Sheila Rice, Executive Director of NeighborWorks, noted
that the awards reflect the dedication of Stockman Bank and its employees to helping lowincome customers become homeowners and find qualified affordable rental housing.
Bill Coffee
The Stockman Bank award, which was presented to Bill Coffee, Chief Executive Officer, was in
honor of the bank support of affordable housing and affordable housing organizations
throughout Montana over the past 15 years.
Dave Zoanni, Chief of Branch Supervision for Stockman Bank, was presented with an award for his service as the
Treasurer of the NeighborWorks Montana Board of Directors, and for his guidance of the statewide non-profit
organization in a period of rapid growth.
Alan Holom, Vice President of Real Estate Lending, was honored for his leadership as
President of NeighborWorks Montana, in helping to expand homeownership services to all 56
counties and provide down-payment assistance to low-income homebuyers.
NeighborWorks Montana is a statewide housing nonprofit organization that offers
homebuyer education and counseling as well as lending assistance across Montana.
Dave Zoanni
10
Stockman Bank is a complete financial center providing personal, business, agricultural and
real estate banking services across Montana, northern Wyoming and western North Dakota.
Matched-savings program growing
NeighborWorks Montana
supports matched savings
accounts throughout the
state with a statewide
pool of matching funds.
Five agencies in Montana
operate Individual
Development Accounts
(IDA) under the Federal
Assets for Independence
Program (AFI), where
a low income individual
saves toward a specific
savings goal of higher
education, small business
development or homeownership: Montana Credit
Unions for Community Development, Human Resources
Development Council in Billings, NeighborWorks
Montana, NeighborWorks Great Falls and Rural
Dynamics, Inc.
In the matched savings programs, the savers save up
to $1,000 toward their specific goal while attending
financial capability and education classes over a
minimum six month period. The savers establish a
banking or credit union relationship by opening a saving
account. Once the savers have reached their savings
goal, the IDA agency provides matching funds, half from
the Federal AFI program and half from private sources,
usually individuals and foundations.
Together the IDA agencies across the state have
enrolled 205 families in IDA programs with 91 families
reaching their savings goal, and 56 completed their
goal of purchasing a home, starting a small business
or enrolling in higher education. A total of $434,000
has been raised in matching funds by NeighborWorks
Montana and the individual IDA agencies have raised
additional funds on their own.
Montana Saves Together, an online program designed
to solicit individual donations for matched savings pool
was launched in July of 2013 and has raised $9,000
to date. A social media campaign in 2013 resulted in
3,500 Facebook users accessing the site. The Montana
Coalition for Housing and Infrastructure and the existing
Montana Asset Building Coalition will conduct candidate
forums in September and October to educate legislators
on the importance of asset building as a strategy to
break the cycle of poverty. The Coalition intends to
promote a matching funds donation tax credit bill in the
2015 session, so that individual donors can receive a tax
credit for their contributions of IDA matching funds.
Make a matching donation today at montanasavestogether.org
Billings subdivision underway
NeighborWorks Montana is beginning work on the
Reinke subdivision just east of Billings. The land was
originally planned for a Mutual Self Help Program
build, but after the deal dissipated, the oversight
organization, Community Frameworks, deeded the
land to NWMT for affordable housing. NWMT will
place modular
homes, each with
a crawl space, on
foundations on
the property.
A nearby
community water
system, which the
subdivision has
joined, eliminates
the need for cisterns.
The Reinke project began as eight 1-acre tracts with
potable water. Now, NWMT is doubling the number
of modular homes that can be placed on foundations,
focusing on producing 16 homes, with two homes per
acre. They will each have their own water, and every
two homes will share septic. These homes will be
eligible for low-interest Rural Development direct or
guarantee loans.
NEW BOARD OFFICERS SELECTED
The board of directors for NeighborWorks Montana
has re-elected several board members and a new slate
of officers.
At the June 4 board meeting, the board re-elected
Burt Hurwitz of White Sulphur Springs; Jim Morton,
Missoula; Michael O’Neil, Helena; Julie Graham,
Helena; and Mike Smith, Kalispell.
Here are the professions for each member re-elected:
Hurwitz is an attorney, Morton is the executive
director of the Missoula Human Resource Council;
O’Neil is a program officer for the statewide advocacy
group for the disabled, AWARE; Graham is an officer at
and the real estate manager for Mountain West Bank;
and Smith is an officer at and the real estate manager
at Glacier Bank.
The following board members then were elected to
positions of leadership:
Michael O’Neil, president; Mike Smith, 1st Vice
President; Burt Hurwitz, 2nd Vice President; Julie
Graham, Secretary; and Jack Prothero, who was reelected to as Treasurer. Prothero is a retired banker.
Board members were elected for three-year terms.
Each officer’s term is one year.
11
Resident Owned Communities (ROCs)
We Own It!
Buena Vista ROC - Missoula
Board of Directors and NWMT
Staff member
Back row from left: Chris Mosby,
Terry Huetter, Charlie Schneider
Front row from left: Kaia Peterson,
Darrly Branning, Karen Thompson
Two Missoula groups purchase their
manufactured home communities
Homeowners in two separate manufactured housing communities in Missoula
have taken a big step toward securing their financial futures and increasing their
quality of life when they cooperatively bought
their neighborhoods as resident corporations.
Terry Huetter, a homeowner at Buena Vista
and president of its interim board, said the
relief of controlling the community is hard to
measure. Buena Vista residents completed
their purchase at the end of 2013.
In February, another manufactured home park
was purchased in Missoula by its residents. The
homeowners in the former River Road Trailer
Court cooperatively purchased the land
beneath their homes, and then voted to
change the name to River Acres.
“In the beginning, nobody —
even myself — thought this
could actually get done. But
everybody that started out is
still together and with everyone
else’s help, we made it happen.
It’s a wonderful feeling to
actually own it and have the land
secure and not worry about it
being sold out from under us.”
Ron Ehman, a homeowner at River Acres for 26
years and president of its interim board, said he
~ Terry Heutter, Board President
and his neighbors are very conscientious with
their money. That’s why they studied the
purchase thoroughly and were engaged in the entire process.
“This is not a rich community — people worry about their money here,” said Ehman, a
65-year-old retiree and Navy veteran. “A year from now, I think you’ll find that this
court is one of the nicest ones in town. It’s going to be kind of a showcase.”
As a result of the purchases by the two cooperatives, the land in both
manufactured home parks will remain part of a cooperative belonging to its
members in perpetuity—while 64 units of affordable housing have been
preserved in a two prime Missoula locations.
NeighborWorks Montana helped guide co-op members through the purchase.
NWMT, a statewide nonprofit that supports affordable housing, is a certified
technical assistance provider with ROC USA® Network, a national nonprofit
organization that works to help residents of for-sale manufactured home parks
form cooperatives and buy their communities. ROC and NWMT provided
financing for the purchase.
12
Owners trained
to operate parks
For Resident Owned Communities
the work is not done when they
purchase their land. Once they
become owners of their property
they quickly have to learn how
to manage and operate their
community.
Fortunately for the six manufactured
home cooperatives in Montana they
get to learn from the experience
of more than 100 communities like
theirs across the country that have
ventured this path before.
As part of the ROC USA network
NeighborWorks Montana and the
communities we work with get to
draw on this experience through
trainings and peer exchanges both
in person and virtual. For the most
recent training we were fortunate to
have Cathy Haigh, National Network
Training and Education Manager
with ROC USA, join us in Missoula.
Cathy facilitated a full day of training
for 15 people representing all six
of the ROCs in Montana – from
Kalispell, Great Falls, Red Lodge and
Missoula.
Participants got answers to
questions like: How do I read and
manage our financial statements?
And, where can I turn in our bylaws
to find the process for allocating
funds in an emergency for a water
line break?
Thanks to Cathy for making the
trek to Montana and to all of
the participants for their great
work in the training, and in their
communities.
To learn more about ROCs, visit
“I am a Homeowner/Manufactured
Housing” page on our website at
nwmt.org.
Montana Board of Housing Updates
At the most recent MBOH board meeting on June 9, the board approved changes to income limits for several of its home
loan products: the Regular Bond Program, the Mortgage Credit Certificate Program and ScoreAdvantage Down Payment
Assistance Program. Purchase price limits and target areas also changed for all three programs.
It is important for lenders and clients to pay close attention to geographical areas because some limits have undergone
drastic changes, both up and down. The income limits drive eligibility for the programs.
These changes are in effect immediately for all loans. For more information, view the MBOH Quick Reference Guide housing.
mt.gov/content/SF/docs/ProgramFactsheet.pdf. Lenders and clients also should look at the Terms and Conditions document
at housing.mt.gov/About/homeownership/homeownershipdocs.mcpx.
Mortgage rates remain low for all MBOH programs. Most striking is the 2.696% for the Veterans Home Loan Program, but
other rates are low, too: 4.25 percent to 5 percent (depending upon credit score) for the Score Advantage Program, and 4
percent for the Regular Bond Program.
All rates are subject to change. View rates at housing.mt.gov/FAR/rates.mcpx.
Consider the Mortgage Credit Certificate program to potentially reduce client tax liability on eligible non-MBOH home
loans. For more information, visit housing.mt.gov/About/homeownership/mcc.mcpx.
The Community Development Division is in the process of creating the five-year consolidated plan and is seeking ideas. The
plan identifies where state housing resources will be directed. Contact the Housing Division to provide your input in this
important process. For more information, call 406-841-2770.
Rural Dynamics Inc., conducts poverty simulator
Reprinted with permission from the Great Falls Tribune
Written by Tribune Staff Writer Kristen Cates
Participants in the Rural Dynamics Inc., poverty
simulator had the chance to see in one hour the
frustrations and challenges individuals living on the edge
of poverty face monthly.
Using the gym at the Ursuline Centre, Rural Dynamics
recently brought community supporters, elected
officials and different agencies together to simulate the
living and working situations of approximately 40
percent of Great Falls’ residents.
“We have a lot of people living
paycheck to paycheck,” said Karen
Heisler, program manager at the
nonprofit Rural Dynamics.
Organizers had participants
grouped into different families and
living situations in the center of the
gym. On the outside were
businesses or services the
participants had to access based on
the scenario they were given. For
example, there was a bank, a
grocery store, a quick loan station, a
jail, social services, child care, a
homeless shelter and more. Every 15
minutes in the simulation
represented one week and families
had to figure out what services to
access based on their character
descriptions. Each family started with a limited
number of transportation passes representing either
public transportation or their own vehicles that they
had to hand over at every stop they made. “These are
real-life family scenarios,” Heisler said.
Julie McCamley, Jean Price, Steven Ehlers, and Lori
Eckhardt made up the Knowles/Kaminski family.
McCamley was the 36-year-old father, working 40
hours a week making $8.50 an hour. Eckhardt was a
15-year-old student who worked part time when not in
school. Ehlers was the 36-year-old mother
currently unemployed and Price was the
57-year-old grandmother who collected
Social Security and had medical problems
that did not allow her to be out on her
own.
The family had a vehicle they were
making payments on, in addition to a
mortgage and utilities. They had to
navigate going to work and getting bills
paid within each of those 15 minutes. For
the Knowles/Kominski clan, time was the
issue as complications arose along the
way, such as the daughter needing
money for school projects, long lines at
the bank and the grocery store and a
grandmother who couldn’t be left
unattended. The family received
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,
but the money ran out after two weeks,
Poverty, continued on page 15
13
Around the Network
Success Stories
CAP reaps wonderful reactions to literacy program
Community Action Partnership, based in Kalispell, just
completed its Free to Choo$e financial literacy program. The
program had an amazing impact on one family. The aunt
joined to show support for her niece. During the program she
met with CAP’s housing counselor to review her credit report and was surprised to learn her
situation was better than she thought. As a result, she reworked her budget three times, to
find a way to pay off all debts by November. She contributed to a retirement account for ten
years but had no idea what was in it. The class challenged her to learn. When she did, she was
shocked to see the amount. This inspired the niece to start her own retirement account.
CAP also taught a high school class. One activity involved budgeting $23 weekly for food for
one hypothetical high school girl. Class members were asked to shop sales and buy food to
compliment what was on hand. It also stipulated that the girl would like to eat out once a
week with friends. On the last day of class we asked what impacted the students most. A
teen girl answered that she lives on her own and she now does exactly what that lesson
taught and she is saying “no” more often to her friends when they ask her to go out to eat.
Happy Birthday, Homeword!
Homeword uses creativity to achieve goals of preserving
affordable homes and educating and coaching people on
life changing decisions, like buying their first home, or
paying off debt and improving their credit so they can
take out an affordable loan to buy a safe, reliable vehicle.
It takes a village. Homeword doesn’t accomplish this work
in a vacuum, but instead harnesses creativity through our
partnerships and relationships
with organizations like
Neighborworks Montana to
Did you know that
make a difference for people
your support of safe,
in Montana.
This year Homeword is focused
on rehabilitation of existing
affordable housing around the
state. Renovation is one of the
most sustainable ways
Homeword can keep this
important housing available
for Montanans in need.
14
Community Action
Partnership of
Northwest Montana
Phone: 406-758-5420
Fax: 406-752-6582
Andrea Davis, Executive Director, Homeword
Homeword of Missoula is celebrating 20 years of
operation this year, as it continues its commitment to
providing safe, healthy, affordable housing using
sustainable methods and promoting strong communities
through housing counseling and education for those most
in need.
Housing rehabilitation helping
with health and stability
For more information,
contact Karen
Wanjico, Financial
Literacy Program
Manager
healthy, affordable
housing not only gives
people decent homes,
but also provides
them with
opportunities for
financial and family
stability, now and
in the future?
Soroptimist Village - Great Falls
Through Homeword’s partnership
with Soroptimist Village Inc., all 56
affordable senior apartments will be rehabilitated this
year. The first ten are under construction right now.
One Soroptimist Village resident said, “We are just so
excited about the remodel. We don’t know what we
would have done if this place had gone away – it’s hard
to pay rent and for medications with just social security.”
Hillview - Havre
The community of Havre has identified affordable housing
- both preserving existing homes as well as building new
homes - as a critical need. This makes the renovations that
Homeword is doing at Hillview all that more important for
the residents who live there.
The first of nine apartment buildings is under renovation.
Inefficient and worn-out plumbing fixtures, electrical
fixtures, flooring and cabinets are being replaced. New
low-VOC paint and mold remediation are underway.
The “like new” rehabilitation will also include new
roofing, siding, windows and heating systems. Not only
will the units look nicer, but they will also be safer and
more energy efficient homes for people.
One resident said, “We have a lot of families here and
that can be more wear and tear for apartments – Hillview
is really ready to be cleaned up and made safer.”
Homeword, continued on page 15
Get Ready for HomeOwnership Class
Homeword, continued from page 14
Housing Counseling and Homeownership Education
Homeword’s certified class instructors partner with local
industry professionals, including Realtors, lenders,
financial advisors, insurance and tax professionals, title
agents and home inspectors.
Being an empowered and educated consumer makes all
the difference when making big financial decisions. For
most people, buying a home is the biggest purchase
they will ever make. Homeword’s monthly homebuyer
education class helps take the mystery out of the
homebuying process, giving potential homebuyers
information necessary to make the best decisions
possible.
Homeword class participant
Healthier living
Annie wrote, “When we
conditions help
began our search for our first
prevent sickness and
home last year, we were
promote
general and
completely out of our
financial well-being.
element. In this economy
when so many people are
losing their homes, the
process was especially daunting. Homeword’s class gave
us the confidence and knowledge to ask questions we
never would have considered of lenders, Realtors,
insurance agents, and others. I know that our smooth
and successful home purchase was due in large part to
everything we learned in the course.”
Other Services - FREE
Homeword also offers a free monthly financial education
class called “Financial Fitness” for people interested in
improving their basic financial management skills.
Homeword also offers one-on-one pre-purchase housing
counseling, post-purchase housing counseling and
education, financial counseling and foreclosure
prevention counseling. All of Homeword’s counseling
services are provided by HUD-certified Housing
Counselors and offered free of charge.
Since 1997, the education and counseling services
offered through Homeword’s Regional HomeOwnership
Center have helped more than 8,500 Montanans.
Homeword will continue to strive to fulfill its mission of
promoting strong communities by providing housing
counseling and education to those in need.
Statewide Director
Completes Harvard
Excellence Program
Maureen Rude, director of
statewide operations for NWMT, is
one of 50 leaders that recently
completed the NeighborWorks®
Achieving Excellence Program, conducted in
conjunction with Harvard University’s Kennedy School
of Government.
NeighborWorks® Achieving Excellence Program is an
18-month educational program for senior leaders in
organizations that have a focus on affordable housing,
community revitalization or other community
development endeavors. The participants select a
specific challenge facing their organizations and utilize
the tools and concepts learned throughout this
program to meet that challenge.
Rude’s challenge was to develop a secondary loan
product that resulted in lower home mortgage
payments by eliminating mortgage insurance premiums.
She succeeded, and more than 60 of the new loans
already have been made.
Poverty, continued from page 13
forcing them to depend more heavily on the paycheck
McCamley was earning. But the problem was
McCamley had to stay in the “employment” area for
at least seven of the 15 minutes to represent working
full time, leaving just eight minutes to get her
paycheck to the bank and get other errands taken
care of.
“It was like you handled the present needs and that
was it,” McCamley said.
For the first half hour, participants casually meandered
around the room as they tried to get various tasks
accomplished. But for the second half hour — the
second half of the month — everyone picked up the
pace as they raced to get bills paid before utilities got
shut off or buy food. The Knowles/Kaminski clan
ended up pawning a ring and a camera to get the
mortgage finally paid.
“It’d just be exhausting to live like this,” Price said.
Eckhardt, who works at Family Connections, said she
wanted to get a closer look at the challenges many
of her clients face when trying to find the right
childcare on limited incomes.
“I just wanted to understand their situation. They’re
very frustrated,” she said. “This is really frustrating.”
© The Great Falls Tribune
15
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Executive Director
Sheila Rice
Statewide Operations
Maureen Rude, Kaia Peterson
Accounting/Finance/Human Resources
James Mace, Amanda Kelly,
Karen Enseleit, Kevin Lee,
Loan Department
Rosemary Torkelson, Lori Yurko,
Pat Hilgendorf, Linda Grossman
Resource Development/Marketing
Carrie Koppy, Chavonne Horton, Amber Beckner
Coordinator for Project Development
Mary Lou Affleck
Administrative Assistants
Kim Schlehr, Zedda Gallegos - Office Volunteer
In accordance with provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, there shall be no discrimination against credit
applicants on the basis of age, source of income, sex, race, marital status, national origin, religion or handicap by
NeighborWorks Montana. Whenever possible, NWMT activities will be held in a handicapped accessible location.
Auxiliary aids will be provided upon request and arrangements made to meet the needs of
handicapped persons requiring NWMT services.
Billings to get one-stop shopping on housing issues
Six Billings area housing organizations have come together to form
the Billings Home Center, a one-stop shop to provide home
information to Billings area residents.
At the invitation of the City of Billings, NeighborWorks Montana
convened several meetings of Billings-area housing professionals,
many of which were already offering housing services in
partnership with NeighborWorks Montana. The Human Resources
Development Council, Beartooth Resource and Conservation Area,
Homeword, Rebuilding Together, the City of Billings, the Billings
Housing Authority and NeighborWorks Montana are collaboratively creating the Billings Home Center to be opened in
late 2014, upon completion of a fund drive to provide operating funds for the Center.
NeighborWorks America has generously provided a start-up grant for the early organizational meetings. A site for the
Billings Home Center will be determined following the fund drive. The Home Center collaborating agencies will decide
on a centrally located space where individuals and families can find comprehensive housing
services, including homebuyer and renter education and counseling, foreclosure mitigation,
matched savings accounts, down payment assistance and, in the future, new homes and
rental development.
Are you interested in donating to NeighborWorks Montana?
Visit us online at nwmt.org and click on the Donate Tab or send your contribution to:
NeighborWorks Montana, 509 1st Avenue South, Great Falls, MT 59405
GO GREEN visit our website and register to receive our newsletter via email!