Sunset Village | Sidney
A Message from Cheryl Cohen
Division Administrator, Montana Housing
The emergence of the novel Coronavirus, coupled with an environment of divisive politics and civil unrest, has impacted so many aspects of our personal and professional lives. Bruce Brensdal, after 30 years of incredible service to the state of Montana dedicated to the expanding access to affordable housing, transitioned to retirement. And it seems all our remarkable transitions and life events are now captured via virtual Zoom calls.
Yet despite and even in response to events beyond our control, the staff at Montana Housing have demonstrated a tireless commitment to our mission with a heightened awareness of all of the small and big ways our work impacts families and induviduals across our state.
Starting with the passage of the CARES Act, Montana Housing staff has also been actively assessing the impacts of COVID-19 related to legislation and regulations and implementing programmatic shifts needed to comply with these changes. This has included mortgage forbearance requirements, foreclosure and eviction moratoriums, adjustments to file reviews and on-site inspections and a plethora of other impacts. Not only have we needed to digest and implement these changes internally, but we’ve also needed to communicate these changes with our partners and clients.
Since March 1, Montana Housing staff have worked approximately 7,000 hours on COVID-19 related activities, including administration of the two phases of the Emergency Housing Assistance program.
With all of these challenges facing us, Montana Housing will continue our mission to help Montanans have access to affordable homes. And along with our housing partners, we will make it through this with added resiliency and strength.
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Welcome Joe DeFilippis
Montana Housing is pleased to announce Joe DeFilippis as its new Operations Manager. Joe has 19 years of experience in state government with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. When not at work, Joe enjoys golf and spending time with his wife and three children.
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More Montanans may now be eligible for monthly rent and mortgage assistance. Montana Housing has made updates to the Emergency Housing Assistance program to help more Montanans access emergency housing assistance.
The eligibility updates include reducing the household contribution calculation from 30 percent of gross income to 25 percent of net income, eliminating the $10,000 readily available assets limit in checking and savings accounts and implementing a $250 per month minimum award.
At Montana Housing, we encourage Montanans who have lost a job or substantial income loss as a result of COVID-19 to apply for Emergency Housing Assistance. The Emergency Housing Assistance program provides rent, security deposit, mortgage payment and/or hazard insurance assistance to qualified households.
American Renters Will Owe Up to $34 Billion in Back Rent by January
New Report Demonstrates the Urgent Need for Federal Emergency Rental Aid
A recent report from the NCSHA shows that U.S. renters will owe up to $34 billion in past-due rent by January, increasing eviction filings and imposing punishing financial hardship on millions in just a few months.
The report estimates roughly 10-14 million renter households home to 23-34 million renters were behind on their rent by a total of roughly $12-$17 billion as of September 14. These renters will owe up to $34 billion by January, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s nationwide eviction moratorium expires.
In Montana, the report estimates that 10,000-30,000 renter households are unable to pay for rent and are at the risk of eviction. The report also estimates 10,000 eviction filings by January 2021 and a $23-$51 million estimated range of rent shortfall in Montana by January 2021.
State housing finance agencies in 33 states, including here in Montana, have stood up emergency rental assistance programs in the last six months, but NCSHA estimates they will not be able to meet the current and coming need without more federal support. Read more here.
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