Montana Success Stories
Community unites to address housing needs
Where: Roundup, Mont., a small community of about 2000 people in central Montana located between the Snowy and Bull Mountains.
Problem: Some areas of Roundup have a substantially large percentage of substandard housing.
Solution: MAP and the Housing Advisory Council will work with the local community action agency to utilize a first-time home buyer assistance program that can also be expanded to include homeowner rehabilitation to assist low- to moderate-income families.
Roundup, Mont., is a small community of about 2000 people in central Montana, located between the Snowy and Bull Mountains. Midwest Assistance Program has been working with very dedicated volunteers in Musselshell County for over a year to assess available housing, identify needs and identify solutions.
The Musselshell Housing Advisory Committee, comprised of town and county residents, conducted a “windshield” structural survey of 797 housing units in January of 2007. This survey uses visual exterior inspections in six categories and assigns points for that indicate the condition as being “standard,” “moderately substandard,” “substantially substandard” or “severely substandard.” The categories include foundation, exterior wall/porch/stairs, windows/doors, roof, chimney/vents, and electrical service. When calculated, total point scores provide the mechanism to appraise the housing condition.
Public hearings presenting data from the windshield, census, landlord and realtor surveys were held to identify needs and develop plans to address housing needs in the Roundup area, and to provide information on programs available to address those needs. MAP and the Housing Advisory Council will work with the local community action agency to assist low- to moderate income families to purchase new or rehabilitate existing homes.
MAP and the Housing Advisory Council will work with the local community action agency to assist low- to moderate income families to purchase new or rehabilitate existing homes.
For more information, contact:
Phone: 952-758-4334
Fax: 952-758-4336
E-mail: map@map-inc.org
MAP is a member of the RCAP network and an equal-opportunity lender, provider and employer.