Comprehensive houselessness strategy

There have been successes, failures and a lot of lessons learned the past five years when it comes to houselessness.

We are still seeing the ripple effects of Montana legislature cutting critical services for case management across the state as more people are living with untreated mental illness, substance abuse disorder and are generally just falling through deep societal cracks. The wage gap continues to widen. The cost of living here continues to rise as do housing costs. Combine all of that with the fact that Missoulians have said pretty loud and clear that they do not want to be taxed anymore. Levies continue to fail for our schools and for crisis services.

In 2020, the city of Missoula supported the building of Blue Heron Place, The Trinity Apartments and The Villagio. These permanently affordable housing complexes include 33 units of transitional housing and nearly 500 units of permanently affordable housing for Missoula residents.

At the same time, the city continued to financially support the Poverello Center, it opened the Johnson Street shelter and an authorized campsite as Covid-era emergency measures while supporting the work of service providers in our community to connect with our unhoused neighbors. 

With the wind down of funding for the Johnson Street Shelter I have continued to push for a comprehensive houselessness strategy that includes input and collaboration among service providers, local government and other community partners. I support getting as many people housed and connected to services as possible. I also support increased sheltering  – congregate shelters, an authorized campsite, temporary safe outdoor spaces - but would look to community partners to help fund and manage these efforts. These efforts are critical but the city can’t do it alone.