Many Subsidized Housing Apartments Still Available in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - In the last few months, 402 affordable housing units have become available for rent in Missoula, which hundreds of individuals and families have been eagerly anticipating.

On the KGVO Talk Back Missoula ECON 101 episode on Tuesday, the guests were Grant Kier, CEO of the Missoula Economic Partnership, whose special guest was Mary Melton, Asset Manager with the Missoula Housing Authority.

Melton described the mission of the Missoula Housing Authority.

402 Units of Subsidized Housing have Come Online in the Past Few Months

“The Missoula Housing Authority develops housing,” began Melton. “We also work with HUD (Housing and Urban Development) and other programs to provide subsidies, meaning that you pay a percentage of your income for rent. And then, of course, we have the 402 units that are coming online this year that Grant Kier was talking about, which are two of the largest affordable housing projects in the state, actually, and those are built with what's called Low Income Housing Tax Credits, which is an IRS program.”

There are two separate Missoula Housing Authority apartment complexes addressed on the ECON 101 program, the Villagio and the Trinity projects.

Click on the Links Above for Each Subsidized Housing Project

“Trinity is actually on two separate sites,” she said. “Homeward had bought a site that used to be a trailer park over on the north side in the Burns Street Bistro area, and then the county actually donated land to Missoula Housing Authority next to the Detention Center for the other 130 units of affordable housing on the Trinity sites.”

Melton described how an individual or a family can qualify for the housing subsidies available from the Missoula Housing Authority.

Renters must 'Income Qualify' for the Villagio and Trinity Apartments

“People have to ‘income qualify’ for those,” she said. “The income qualification is up to 80 percent of area median income and 80 percent of area median income for single person household is $48,400. The rents are capped by the state so we have a rent amount that we can't go over and the rent caps by the state also include utilities. That means we have to take off a utility allowance if people have to pay utilities at our properties, which some do some don't.”

The good news is that Melton said there are still a good number of apartments from one to four bedrooms available for rent.

Villagio has 137 units available (2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes).  People can contact villagio@blpmc.com or call the main number (406)549-4113 and ask for Tori. Anyone can apply. 

Trinity has 4 units still available (2-1 Bedroom homes and 2-3 BR homes).  People can contact trinity@blpmc.com or call the same number and contact as above.  Anyone can apply. 

Parkside Village has 12 vacancies—primarily 2 bedroom homes. People can contact nabrams@missoulahousing.org or call our main number and talk to Tori. 

River Ridge has 6 homes available—this is senior 55+ independent living.  People can contact vsomerlott@missoulahousing.org or call the main number and talk to Tori.  

There are no application fees at any of Missoula Housing Authority properties. 

Get details on how to qualify for the low income housing here.

Listen to the entire ECON 101 Talk Back Program here.