Flathead County commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 31 are poised to vote on a program that could bring a total of $9 million in funding for workforce housing assistance to the county.  

It’s the last day commissioners can vote on the housing assistance program created by the 2023 Legislature. In recent weeks, citizens, business owners, community leaders and housing professionals have flooded the commissioners’ office saying the program is critical in addressing a shortage of affordable housing here. 

Commissioners at 9 a.m. are set to consider a resolution participating in the program created through House Bill 819 and designating a Community Reinvestment Organization that would carry out the program.  

Public comment is taken prior to the vote beginning at 8:45 a.m. Commissioners meet at the Historic Courthouse, 800 S. Main St. in Kalispell. 

NeighborWorks Montana has applied to carry out the program, which provides homebuyers with a loan to assist in lowering the purchase price of a home. Those loans then roll back into the program to help future homebuyers.

House Bill 819 made $4.5 million available to Flathead County at no cost to the county. The nonprofit administering the program is required to come up with the private match for the total in funding that would become available.  

If commissioners don’t sign off on the organization managing the program, Flathead County’s funds would be redistributed to other counties participating.    

Commissioner Brad Abell has said he supports the program, while commissioners Randy Brodehl and Pam Holmquist have been less certain.  

A range of supporters have pushed for approval of the program, noting that purchasing a home in the Flathead Valley has become difficult with the median cost for a single-family home in the county hitting $650,000 this year.  

The homeownership program would provide homebuyers with 30% of the cost of the home as a loan or an investment, in exchange for assistance homebuyers agree to an equity cap of 1% per year. The cap allows for the remaining equity to be put back into the program for future home loans.     

The program looks to work with households who are 60% to 140% of Area Median Income. Flathead County’s area median income in 2024 was $88,400, according to government-sponsored Fannie Mae, which would equate to 100% of AMI.      

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].