Montana’s Affordable Housing Champions Receive Awards
HELENA, Mont. – Representatives from the Montana Department of Commerce’s Montana Housing Division and NeighborWorks Montana presented awards to Montana’s affordable housing champions during the annual Housing Partnership Conference on Wednesday in Helena.“These housing champions have spent much of their careers focused on innovative and results-oriented housing policies and programs, but they also know a home is more than just bricks and mortar,” said Scott Osterman, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Access to affordable, attainable housing is essential to ensuring our residents and future generations are able to live, work and raise their families in Montana.”
The awards are presented to individuals who have shown extraordinary commitment to increasing access to attainable, affordable housing for all Montanans.
2023 Housing Champion Award Recipients:
Exemplary Public Service
This award was presented for rapidly implementing and overseeing the Montana Emergency Rental Assistance Housing Stability Services program. Over 5,200 Montanans received critically needed services:
- Traci Clark, Policy and Innovation Specialist, Montana DPHHS
- Jackie Hoover, Interdepartmental Housing Integration Project Program Manager, Montana DPHHS
- Sara Loewen, Human and Community Services Division Bureau Chief, Montana DPHHS
This award is presented each year to a local non-profit where the housing conference is hosted. This year, Habitat for Humanity of Helena was selected. Jacob Kuntz, Habitat of Humanity of Helena’s Executive Director, answered the call to serve on the Governor’s Housing Task Force, acting as a strong advocate for affordable housing while collaborating with individuals from across the political spectrum. Additionally, Habitat for Humanity of Helena assisted in clean-up efforts in the town of Fromberg following last summer’s flooding, and participated in the Youthbuild career training program.
Legislators of the Year
This award was presented in appreciation for work done in the 2023 Montana Legislative Session to champion policy to create affordable homes:
- Senator Pat Flowers, Senate District 32
- Representative George Nikolakakos, House District 26
This award was presented to two legislators in recognition of their years of State service and their support for policy creating affordable homes.
- Representative Dave Fern, House District 5
- Representative Tom Welch, House District 72
This award was presented in recognition of thirty years of service leading Commerce’s Montana Housing Division and furthering its mission of supporting access to safe and affordable homes:
- Bruce Brensdal of Jefferson City
Tags: Montana Housing