GREAT FALLS — More than $13 million in federal funds will be awarded to Montana to build and repair housing for low-income Montanans.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allocate the funding through the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program, the HOME program, and the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program.
The CDBG program provides funding to construct and restore housing for low and moderate income families while the HOME program will specifically go towards low- and very-low income family housing. The ESG program ensures rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention for families experiencing a housing crisis as well as the expansion and renovation of emergency homeless shelters. Both the CDBG and HOME Programs would be completely eliminated under President Trump's proposed 2020 budget, according to a press release.
The funding will be partially split between three Montana cities with the rest going to the state:
Billings - $1,006,964
· CDBG - $657,820
· HOME - $349,144
Great Falls - $1,088,773
· CDBG - $808,347
· HOME - $280,426
Missoula - $971,147
· CDBG - $576,954
· HOME - $394,193
State of Montana - $10,547,132
· CDBG - $6,680,700
· HOME – $3,134,369
· ESG - $732,063
All three programs help people expand emergency shelters, find financial information and secure decent housing.
The City of Great Falls website lists $794,666 in CBDG funds last year. According to the city's Office of Community Planning and Development, the city is approved to receive $808,347 this year
U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) said in a press release, “These grants will help provide low income families with safe, affordable housing so folks don’t have to empty their wallets as they work to build their futures.”
