Tester Secures $4 Million in Housing and Rental Assistance Investments for Montanans

Funds will be used to provide rental assistance to low-income and at-risk Montanans facing eviction

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $4,039,203 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support public health, housing, and economic disruption needs as a result of the pandemic.

“Folks across Montana are getting squeezed hard, and these funds will help them keep the wolf away from the door,” said Tester. “But let’s be absolutely clear, we are facing an unprecedented housing crisis across our state, and it is indefensible that Congress can’t come together and work in a bipartisan way to get real, long-term relief to the folks that are hurting. I’ll continue to work with anyone from either side of the aisle to find solutions because we can’t stick our heads in the sand when homes and livelihoods are on the line.”

The funds secured by Tester will be used to provide rental assistance to low-income and at-risk Montanans facing eviction. The money will be allocated to the following communities in Montana:

• Billings: $522,153
• Great Falls: $236,375
• Missoula: $365,227
• Montana Department of Commerce Community Development Division: $2,915,448

Following a sustained push led by Tester, the Trump Administration last month agreed to extend the foreclosure and eviction moratoriums for Americans who receive certain types of federal housing assistance through December 31, 2020.

Additionally, Senator Tester is a cosponsor of the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020, which would establish a $100 billion Emergency Rental Assistance program to help families and individuals pay their rent and utility bills while remaining stably housed. It would also help rental property owners of all sizes continue to cover their costs.

The CARES Act provided $5 billion in supplemental Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This last allotment of funds from that supplemental appropriation will be allocated to state and local governments. Earlier this year, Tester secured more than $3 million in housing relief to help Montanans through the program.