By Kathleen Shannon - Producer, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - As the price of housing in Montana has skyrocketed, Montana Fair Housing’s task of preventing discrimination became more vital. President Donald Trump’s order to freeze federal funding could severely impact the organization’s work. Comments by Pam Bean, executive director, Montana Fair Housing.
Click on the image above for the audio. According to the Montana Budget and Policy Center, about 21% of Montana renters, about 27,985 households, are severely cost-burdened. (Adobe Stock)
Kathleen Shannon
January 30, 2025 - The Trump administration has rescinded a Monday memo to freeze federal grants. A week of confusion over fiscal policy has left some groups uncertain about the future, including a Montana nonprofit.
Montana Fair Housing offers services to help combat housing discrimination without charge, including education, dispute resolution and enforcement-related activities. The work involves protections provided by the federal Fair Housing Act.
Pam Bean, executive director of the group, said the federal funding on which they rely could still be threatened.
"We would have to markedly cut back on services provided to residents in Montana," Bean pointed out. "We could not provide the information and services we are currently doing at the level we are doing."
She noted fair housing groups across the country were already unable to access their funding systems after the initial freeze, despite a judge's quick move to block it. Along with housing assistance, it is unclear whether the order will affect programs including Medicaid, Head Start and free school meals.
Following pandemic-era rapid population growth in the state, Montana has a deficit of nearly 17,000 affordable and available rental units for people with extremely low incomes, according to the Montana Budget and Policy Center. Bean pointed out it amplifies systemic housing problems.
"With the shortage of housing in Montana, the incidence of discrimination increases because housing providers can be more 'selective' about who they're choosing for tenancy," Bean observed.
Bean added Montana Fair Housing assists about 1,900 households and housing providers each year.
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