Northwest Montana Community Land Trust Information

Work to increase affordable housing choices throughout the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana. Foster resident and community leadership in the long-term stewardship of housing located on community land trust land to improve the quality and security of available housing and the safety and well-being of the community. Collaborate with public and private entities, neighborhood and community organizations, community-based and for-profit developers, and local and state government agencies to develop and maintain permanently affordable housing. Use the community land trust model of stewardship of community-controlled assets to protect investments made in land and resources used for residential, commercial and other community facilities that improve the quality of life in the community. In 2009, the State of Montana was awarded $19.6 million of Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds under Division B, Title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA). The City of Kalispell applied for $4 million of the NSP funds in a partnership with Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana. These funds were used for the purchase and redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. The homes were then placed within the CLT, and used to house individuals or families with specific income qualifications. In 2011 the city of Kalispell was awarded an additional $1.5 million for the same purpose. Since 2012, the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust, Inc. has helped 50 low- and moderate-income families purchase quality homes through a ground lease mechanism that provides strong homeowner support and preserves the communitys investment for future buyers. The Community Land Trusts work is based on an affordable housing model that has successfully stabilized communities around the country. Northwest Montana Community Land Trust, Inc. is committed to preserving the affordability of housing - one owner after another, one generation after another, in perpetuity.