MISSOULA - Missoula County commissioners will debate a housing innovation fund on Thursday.
The fund is an initial step that will provide a baseline structure for future programs that will address housing affordability in Missoula.
The programs will look to include a wider range of household incomes, up to 200% of the median income in Missoula, focusing on those who are often left out of other federal housing programs. Housing specialist Garrick Harmel says this fund can be very beneficial for future housing assistance plans.
"So, the Housing Innovation Fund is a very flexible and nimble fund, that is set up to essentially create additional housing priorities under it,” Harmel explained. “I think it's important because I think you need a structure or a mechanism to be able to recognize what your priorities are within your community and be able to be nimble and flexible about trying to address them."
Thursday's public meeting begins at 2 p.m. in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse and virtually via Microsoft Teams. The agenda and information on how to join the meeting virtually are online at missoula.co/bccmeetings.
According to a news release, establishing the fund is the first major step in implementing the County’s Housing Action Plan: Breaking Ground, and the recommendations fall under three broad goals:
- Use the County’s toolkit – including zoning, infrastructure and use of County lands – to increase the housing supply
- Provide more funding for programs to help people access and stay in stable housing
- Partner with the City, housing nonprofits and developers to improve policy
