As the new school year begins, the lack of affordable housing casts a long shadow over Montana’s communities, especially for our teachers and students. The housing crisis is not just an economic issue — it’s a threat to the future of our state and the well-being of our children.
The housing crisis hits all of us, but in this back-to-school month, the impact on our teachers and families is in full light.
On the trail in western Montana, I met with Seeley Lake’s principal, who told me they had teacher openings with interested candidates, but there were only four houses for sale, all over $750,000. Corvallis is looking to hire teachers, but the high cost of housing is making it challenging. In Big Sky and Missoula, teachers qualify for affordable housing programs. Over the past three years, teachers have taken jobs in western Montana but have been forced to leave because they couldn’t find housing. Montanans are being forced to leave the state, taking their connections, talents and potential with them.
My housing plan is designed to address these challenges head-on. My plan is grounded in conversations with elected officials, neighbors, community leaders and the thousands of miles I’ve traveled to hear Montanans’ stories.
First, we need to accurately assess the problem. Reliable data will allow us to develop policies that address the real issues. We need to understand why houses in desirable neighborhoods sit empty for most of the year, while young families struggle to pay higher and higher rent without being able to find a place to buy. We need to know why our seniors can’t find a place to live out their years in dignity. Good policy starts with good data.
Second, we must follow the money. Throughout my career, I’ve held billion-dollar corporations accountable to Montanans. We need to stop bad actors, and build our communities around people who live in them, not wealthy out of state corporations that are profiteering off of a commodity. My plan protects everyone — from rural to urban communities, across the generations.
Finally, we must invest where it actually results in more homes that real people working here in Montana can buy. I have met with people in trailer homes who are being evicted, people who have good jobs making over $20 an hour but still can’t afford a place of their own.
There are good policies being developed on the ground, and I will support the work in place through programs like the Community Land Trusts and first-time homebuyer programs. I’ll work on removing unnecessary regulatory barriers on the demand and supply side, so available resources get to the places where they will make a difference, with accountability and oversight.
Montana is at a decision point. We can choose to become a playground for billionaires and conglomerate corporations. Or we can fill our playgrounds with the laughter and noise from kids whose families live here year-round. I am running for Congress to help build and sustain our home — a Montana where the teachers, nurses, doctors, law enforcement officers and firefighters who serve our community can afford to live in it. A Montana where college graduates can set down roots and build a future, where our communities remain strong and vibrant and centered around the people who live in them every day.
Together, we can ensure that Montana’s playgrounds are filled with kids and protect Montana from becoming a playground for the ultra-wealthy.
Reader Comments(0)