Marybeth Moran, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley, told the Whitefish City Council on Dec. 1 that the organization has built 73 homes in the Flathead since 1989 and currently has four houses under construction and plans for additional builds in 2026.

Moran said Habitat operates a ReStore in South Kalispell that diverts roughly 4,000 truckloads per year from landfills and provides low‑cost household goods to residents. She described applicant eligibility as targeting households between 30% and 80% of area median income, requiring two years of tax returns, proof of steady employment, credit screening and a sweat‑equity commitment of 275 hours before closing.

Moran outlined the financing model: homeowners receive 30‑year, 2% mortgages through the Montana Board of Housing for Habitat homes, with programmatic second mortgages (for example, NeighborWorks Montana loans up to $65,000 at near‑zero percent, deferred until a sale or triggering event) used when necessary to bridge funding gaps. Habitat also partners with the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust; Habitat ceded first right of refusal on houses to the land trust and caps homeowner appreciation at 25% so homes remain affordable on resale.

On capacity and construction, Moran said Habitat typically delivers five to eight homes annually and relies on three full‑time construction staff plus volunteers — about 10,000 volunteer construction hours a year. The organization is expanding its year‑round capacity by pre‑framing walls indoors and running a pre‑framing shop out of its ReStore, which staff say reduces weather delays and improves quality control.

Garrett, identified as Habitat construction manager, described building details including high insulation values, ductless heat pumps, heat‑recovery ventilators (HRVs), blower‑door testing and a focus on long‑term maintenance costs such as slab‑on‑grade foundations. Garrett said the pre‑framing approach improves quality control and volunteer instruction and helps maintain build schedules through winter.

Moran also announced a land acquisition: Habitat purchased more than 21 acres south of 4 Mile Road in Kalispell, a project the organization is calling Birchwood. She said infrastructure and planning will delay vertical construction until about 2027–28, and Habitat plans a mixed‑income neighborhood in partnership with two private builders to produce a range of housing types and price points.

The presentation emphasized maintaining dignity for homeowners and community integration, with in‑house design to control costs and partnerships to keep units indistinguishable from market homes. Councilors thanked Habitat representatives and indicated interest in future collaboration.