During a recent public hearing, the Bozeman Community Development Board discussed the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2024 to 2028 Consolidated Housing Plan, including the 2024 annual housing action plan and the Fair Housing Equity Plan. Renata Manfreda, the city’s community housing program coordinator, led the session, emphasizing the importance of community input in shaping these plans.

Manfreda explained that Bozeman, having surpassed a population of 50,000, is now classified as an entitlement jurisdiction, allowing it to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. This necessitates the submission of a five-year consolidated plan that identifies housing concerns, particularly for low and moderate-income populations.

The Fair Housing Equity Plan aims to promote equity in housing and access to community resources. Manfreda highlighted the extensive community engagement efforts undertaken to inform the plan, including focus groups with nonprofit organizations serving underserved populations, stakeholder interviews with housing and social services professionals, and a community needs survey that garnered approximately 950 responses.

The consolidated plan will be submitted annually, accompanied by a self-evaluation report known as the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), which outlines the progress made toward achieving the established goals. The board is expected to make a recommendation to the city commission regarding the adoption of the consolidated housing plan following the public hearing.