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Missoula council approves about $1.5 million in PY26 housing and community development allocations
Summary
Council adopted a unified application resolution awarding roughly $1.5 million across affordable housing trust, CDBG, HOME and HOME‑ARP funds to support eviction prevention, rehabilitation of affordable units, supportive services and child‑care programs.
Missoula City Council voted unanimously May 11 to approve the city’s Program Year 2026 funding recommendations, directing roughly $1.5 million in combined local and federal community development funds to housing stabilization, affordable‑housing rehabilitation and supportive services.
Grants administrators Kendra Lysum, Colleen Kaine and Lisa Bower presented the recommendations. The package combines local Affordable Housing Trust Fund dollars (approximately $309,000 this year), Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds (about $800,000 on average combined) and previously awarded HOME‑ARP funds. The staff recommended awards include $200,000 to United Way’s Housing Solutions Fund to restore emergency rental assistance capacity and prevent eviction, continued HOME‑ARP funding for the Human Resource Council’s houseless‑prevention work and Partnership Health Center’s housing counseling and mental‑health support, and several CDBG awards for rehabilitation and accessibility upgrades.
"The top scoring project is $200,000 recommended to support United Way’s Housing Solutions Fund," Lysum said, noting the fund’s prior service to hundreds of Missoula households and its role in preventing homelessness.
Recommended CDBG awards include $275,000 to Homeward’s Orchard Gardens for critical rehabilitation, funding to install two energy‑efficient boilers at the Bruce Blatner Apartments, continued support for RAMP’s ADA ramp installations and homeowner rehabilitation through HRC. Staff also proposed modest HOME operating support (about $16,000) for a community housing development organization; this year the staff recommended Frontep Community Land Trust as the CHDO recipient. Several awards include a request that each recipient bring at least 25% non‑federal leverage.
Public commenters representing funded organizations urged adoption. Julie Pavlish of Homeward thanked staff and council for continued support of existing affordable housing. Eric Legbold of United Way described how earlier trust fund allocations helped more than 200 households and urged replenishment of the Housing Solutions Fund.
Councillor Nent moved adoption of the resolution authorizing the mayor to execute the contracts and agreements; the motion passed by unanimous roll call. Staff will negotiate contracts and return to the council as required for execution and monitoring.
