To view the original article, click HERE.
Housing task force meets in Helena for 1st time
BOZEMAN, Mont. — Members of a new Montana task force met in Helena for the first time Wednesday with hopes of addressing the Treasure State’s housing crisis.
U.S. Census Bureau data shows between 2010 and 2020 Montana’s population grew by 9.6%, while housing units only increased 6.6%.
On top of that. there’s a massive rise in demand.
“With the supply chain breakdowns, rising prices and increased consumer demand, the cost of building a new home soared by more than 18% between March 2021 and March of 2022,” Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte said.
These are just two problems facing Montanans, and the governor’s task force knows it won’t solve them overnight.
“This is no small task. It’s complicated, and there is no single bullet that we’re going to shoot and solve this problem. The problem has very serious effects on all of our communities,” Gianforte said.
Gianforte established the task force last week. Wednesday in Helena, members discussed for the first time ways to make housing more affordable and attainable.
“I find that this group is well suited to be able to solve this problem, and we’ll do it on time and provide recommendations on Oct. 15 and Dec. 15. It will definitely be well attended and will be on point,” task force chair and director of the Department of Environmental Quality Chris Dorrington said.
It’s a bipartisan group of legislators, stakeholders and experts, and they all bring different ideas to address the crisis.
“The task force should be focused solely on what it takes to build more houses in the state of Montana and what are the barriers to doing that. Of course, a lot of those things are known — question is whether or not we can put together a comprehensive solution,” Helena area Habitat for Humanity executive director Jacob Kuntz said.
Right now, the goal is to find a solution group members can all agree on.
NBC Montana will keep following the task force and see what answers they bring to the governor toward the end of the year.