Resident urges Deer Lodge council to back 23-unit affordable housing tax-credit proposal

Desiree, who gave her address as 210 Dixon Street, told the Deer Lodge City Council she is preparing support letters for a 23-unit affordable housing project that will be considered by the Montana Board of Housing on Monday, May 11.

"The 23 unit affordable housing, Montana Board of Housing is going to be hearing eligibility for that proposal on Monday, May 11, and they are seeking support letters," Desiree said. She told the council there will be 11 proposals and that the board plans to narrow that list to eight by Tuesday, May 12.

Desiree identified Housing Solutions of Missoula as the project's developer and said the firm also has applications in Great Falls and Columbia Falls. She said tax credits—sold by corporations that buy credits against federal tax liability—provide the gap financing that makes projects affordable.

The council chair said he had received a late Thursday email about the application and offered to forward the notice to other council members for the record. Desiree said she intends to testify in support of the application at the board hearing and asked the council to consider sending support letters.

Why it matters: low-income housing tax-credit awards are competitive and a timely local endorsement can be part of the application record considered by the Board of Housing. Desiree warned that, without local support or presence, the Deer Lodge proposal could be disadvantaged relative to projects from larger communities.

Next steps: Desiree said the Board of Housing will identify the eight proposals that proceed after May 12; she said she will testify and the council offered to circulate the email notice to members.