Bill Proposing Low-Income Housing Loan Program Advances
A bill that would create a $15 million low-income housing loan program in Montana could be headed for the state House floor for discussion as soon as next week.
House Bill 16, sponsored by Whitefish Democrat Rep. Dave Fern, would direct $15 million of coal tax trust fund money to start a program to provide loans for the development and preservation of homes and apartments to assist low- and moderate-income applicants. The bill passed out of the House Taxation Committee on Feb. 1 with a 13-5 vote.
“I think its chances are pretty good,” Fern said of his bill on Feb. 1. “It’s a loan…so it comes back paid with interest.”
Affordable housing continues to present challenges for Montanans, especially in the Flathead Valley. Whitefish has conducted an affordable housing survey of its workforce and found the housing options to be lacking; the city council recently approved a condo project that promised affordable units as part of its development.
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