Hometown Helena September 22, 7 a.m.: Affordable Housing

County Commissioners give an update in opening updates.

Hometown Helena -- Thursday, September 22, 7 a.m.  @ The Montana Club & Live via ZOOM hosted by AZ Technology Services:

• Affordable Housing featuring guests from YWCA and Helena Housing Authority; Mark Runkle and others
  
  
• Watch recording courtesy at AZ Technology Services:
  https://azworld.zoom.us/rec/share/z-fp5s8bHn1Kl9pgTr3fze0b47QZFDiPcNCzRFSBovwd6D3dgW7HEAnrvTxSwIc.e6OPkfigycAFi1d1
  Passcode: @4mJg%fp

Message from our host Jim Smith:

Greetings Everyone,

 

Fall is in the air.  And the air is clearing.  It’s a busy time of year no matter what your work is, or what your family situation may be, or what your hobbies and leisure activities are.  It’s busy at little old Hometown Helena too.

 

We’re going weekly!  At least thru this Fall.  We’re going to see how it goes for the next several weeks, what the workload of a weekly meeting looks like, and what type of winter we may have.  

I say this frequently and it’s worth saying again:  We rely on the goodwill and assistance of Anderson-Zurmuehlen Technology Services, Inc. and the Montana Club to bring you Hometown Helena.  Ali Mandell and Aja Rail at AZ Technology Services have been with us nearly every week for the last two and one half years.  John Leaf has been our constant contact at the Montana Club since we returned there for in person meetings.  Please keep that in mind.  If you get a chance, please thank them.  And any way you can support either of these fine institutions is much appreciated.

 

We’re going to drill down on an important topic this week: Housing (see below).  Candidates tell us that this is a concern they hear about quite often when they go door to door, meet with elected officials, or talk to community leaders.  You’ll see we have invited guests with expertise and diverse perspectives in this complex area.  I’m really looking forward to this week’s Hometown.

 

I do think it might be wise to pause and reflect just a bit on some things that have been accomplished in this area over the last several years.  I don’t have the numbers (units of housing) at my fingertips.  Last I knew, however, the Helena Housing Authority was managing approximately 800 units of housing.  But I can mention the following housing developments:  Road Runner, Ptarmigan Village, Wilder Street, Eagles Manor remodel, Serendipity remodel, Red Alder.  These have been public-private partnerships, with support of one kind or another from the city and/or the county.  In addition, the marketplace is responding:  Mountain View Meadows, the Remington Apartments, the new housing being built on the north and east sides of town.  

 

Our guests this week come from all points on the housing compass.  They’ll help us understand better what’s going on in Helena in this important area.

 

Look forward to seeing you Thursday on the Zoom, or in person at the Montana Club.

Jim  Smith