Tester Secures $85,500 for NeighborWorks Montana to Combat Housing Shortage

Funding will go to community development in Great Falls

In his continued effort to combat Montana’s housing shortage, Senator Tester today announced he secured $85,500 for NeighborWorks Montana to advance existing community development projects.

NeighborWorks America is awarding more than $2.2 million in grants to NeighborWorks organizations across the country for comprehensive community development awards and health awards.

“One of the biggest issues I hear about from Montanans is the housing crisis facing our state,” Tester said. “I’ve seen firsthand the work that NeighborWorks Montana does to help keep roofs over the heads of more Montanans, and was proud to help secure the funding they need to do this important work. Community development projects like these are critically important to support our working families, while keeping pace with Montana’s growing economy.”

Tester has led the effort to increase the housing supply in Montana. Through his role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, he played a key role in negotiating a bipartisan budget deal that made substantial investments into affordable housing initiatives including the HOME and Community Development Block Grant programs.

Tester has helped secure more than $4 million for Public Housing Authorities across Montana and more than $26 million for affordable housing in Indian Country. He also worked to secure $15 million in HUD funding made available by the American Rescue Plan to support affordable housing construction, purchasing, or rehabilitation for low- and very-low income families. He also held a Housing Summit to gather ideas and suggestions from stakeholders and constituents on how to address the growing housing crisis, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he secured $3.3 million to support housing, public health, coronavirus response, and economic disruption needs. Last November, Tester secured nearly $1.7 million for rural Montana housing and economic development through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Awards program.