Western Montana Health Center Seeks Public Comment on Mental Health Center Project

The city of Missoula and the Western Montana Health Center are seeking public comment on a project to acquire land to construct eight one-bedroom units of rental housing for homeless people with mental illness, dual diagnoses, or HIV/AIDS as priority tenants.Director of Housing and Development Patty Kent said the Mental Health Center is seeking $784,000 of Home Investment Partnerships funding for the $1.2 million project.

"Whenever you utilize federal funding to do any development, in this case it's affordable housing, they want to make sure that you have a site that is environmentally appropriate," Kent said. "It's a process that everyone goes through to make sure that federal dollars are being spent in the most effective way and in a place that's healthy for the future resident."

Kent said the eight units will be located at 1347 Dakota Street which is currently a vacant lot.

"So the goal is to not only do outreach to find homeless persons with mental illness who would actually be eligible to be on disability income," Kent said. "The goal would be to then work with them to get them through that process so that they have a resource to live on as they go forward with safe, decent, and affordable housing."

Anyone interested in commenting on the decision are invited to submit written comments for consideration by the City of Missoula on or before March 1, 2014.

To comment or to obtain a copy of the review, contact John Adams at jadams@co.missoula.mt.us, or at 258-3688.