The 2016 Montana Housing Partnership Conference concluded Wednesday after four days of considering issues such as affordable housing and community revitalization.

Gov. Steve Bullock gave a keynote speech on Wednesday, citing the lessons learned from different housing groups across the state and pledging commitment from his administration to push affordable housing and economic development.

“In many cases, housing issues are the core of both the economic challenges and opportunities we face,” Bullock said. “It affects all Montana families across so many different economic lines.”

Bullock recalled his time in the Attorney General’s office, taking calls from people around the state who were losing their homes to foreclosure during the economic meltdown in 2009. He said housing issues stunt not only Montana families’ growth but economic development on a local and regional scale.

“All economic lines get impacted but certainly the greatest hardship is with our lower-income families and senior citizens,” he said. “It also affects our working households, businesses as they work to attract new employees.

“My administration, my co-workers, certainly will continue to have a commitment to economic development,” he said.

The conference began Sunday, covering a range of topics such as low-income housing credits, new loan programs and housing on Montana reservations.

The event featured national, regional and local speakers to address these topics, as well as address legislative priorities for the 2017 session.

Assistant Attorney General Chuck Munson followed Bullock to reward several organizations and individuals for their efforts in the Attorney General’s “Keep My Montana Home” program. Munson said two weeks ago, the program completed the work to keep 300 homes across the state from foreclosure.

“The warm fuzzies of saving somebody’s home is nice, but one thing I don’t forget about is the economic impact it has,” Munson said. “The neighborhoods where foreclosure was stopped before that work was preserved equity, familial stability, real simply just the preservation of what to most of us is just the biggest asset we’ll ever own, our house.”

Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at [email protected].