Design

NEED FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING:  THIS WAS AN EMAIL I SENT TO THE STAKEHOLDERS EARLY ON

Last year we lost good teachers who felt they had no choice financially but to resign from their new teaching careers.  I spoke with two of these teachers, both were highly skilled people that were making huge impacts on our students.  Although they both had skills and were great with students, they didn’t have the years of experience or the costly post-graduate credits required to move up the district salary matrix enough to afford our valley’s soaring cost of living.  Both said that IF they had an affordable place to live, they would have chosen to stay with the district. 

Sincerely, Jaret Stump

ACCORDING TO THE YELLOW BUS TOUR THAT OUR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION PUTS ON THE FIRST DAY…

MEDIAN HOME PRICES IN THE FLATHEAD ARE OVER $500,000 AND RENTS HAVE SKYROCKETED THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT WHEN TALKING TO APPLICANTS ABOUT OUR DISTRICT’S HIGH HOUSING COSTS, WE COULD ADD “BUT WE DO OFFER WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO NEED AFFORDABLE RENT DURING THEIR FIRST FEW YEARS.”

WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM GOALS

•  Bring together our school board, district administration and teachers union to create a program for teachers who could use affordable housing to help begin their teaching career in our valley.

• While the ultimate goal is to provide affordable housing for teachers, just getting the district to have the discussion about finding ways to leverage their resources to help teachers find affordable housing would be seen as a success.

WAYS TO COMMUNICATE

• Give speeches during public comment of board meetings that outline my ideas

• Do follow up thank you emails that provide more information and context

• Work to build relationships with stakeholders by talking with them any chance you get

WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT IDEAS

·       Use existing school district owned property that is vacant. 

• Rent houses to school district staff with rental a

• Remodel vacant building into rental units

• Create lots on vacant land for mobile home rentals

• Work with local housing partners to get affordable housing deals in place

WORKFORCE HOUSING ISSUES

·       Being landlords is work…but that’s what property managers are for

·       How do we fairly select possible candidates?

·       What does the lease terms and conditions look like…tying lease to employment.

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING

https://housing.mt.gov/Community-Housing/Housing-Trust-Fund

https://www.usgrants.org/montana/housing-grants

https://www.rlacf.org/programs/resilientcommunity/housing/

https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/4-montana-cities-receive-affordable-housing-grants

BENEFITS TO HAVING A WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM

·       REAL DRAW FOR ATTRACTING THE BEST STAFF FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT

·       GOOD LONG TERM INVESTMENT WHERE DISTRICT WOULD BE GETTING PAID BACK OVER TIME