New workforce housing program sees support from city, local businesses

After pledging its support for the new Whitefish Workforce Assistance Program a couple months ago, the Whitefish City Council was pleased to learn that businesses are also stepping up to help fund the first year of the program.

The goal of the program is to help full-time employees successfully live and work in the Whitefish area by providing rental assistance to retain housing or to get into rental units.

The city committed to contributing $200,000 to the program, which was announced at the Council meeting last week. Recently, the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau (Explore Whitefish) each contributed $25,000 to the program.

At a council work session in September, Daniel Sidder, executive director of Housing Whitefish, in partnership with the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce and the Whitefish Housing Authority, introduced the Whitefish Workforce Assistance Project to the council.

Applicants must make less than 100% of AMI, pay over 30% of their income on rent, work an average of 32 hours a week, or 1,600 hours per year, and live in Whitefish or want to live in Whitefish to be closer to work. People with disabilities and retired people are also eligible for the program.

The funds provided by the Workforce Assistance Program can be used for monthly rental assistance or first and last month’s rent required when moving into a unit.  Funds cannot be used for security deposits, pet deposits or other costs associated with moving.

The maximum amount an applicant can receive is $4,800 per year and the funds are distributed directly to housing providers. Applications will be reviewed four times a year. 

To show how the new program will work, Sidder provided an example: An individual is paying $1,300 a month for an apartment. Since 30% of that person’s income is $1,031, the amount a person should pay for rent, the program would provide $269 a month directly to the housing provider.

Explore Whitefish and the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce are both supportive of the Workforce Assistance Program — each already giving $25,000 to Housing Whitefish to get the program started.

“We saw that this was something that could help people immediately,” said Kevin Gartland, executive director of the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. “We see things changing almost on a monthly basis in terms of the character of the community and the folks who can afford to live here so anything we can do to hold on to the rank and file workers of this town is what we’re all about.”

Gartland said the Chamber has always been involved in the housing effort and that when a solid plan was developed, the board was definitely going to be involved.

“We decided to seed the pot with $25,000 of the Chamber's money and we’re going to help them go out and raise the rest of that $100,000 so we can serve as many people as possible in the first year of this program,” Gartland said. 

A new agreement between Housing Whitefish and Explore Whitefish, made another $25,000 contribution possible.

“We have a new MOU with (Explore Whitefish). They're going to be giving 50% of the Community Sustainability Fund towards Housing Whitefish,” Sidder said. “We’d really like to go out and fundraise for that additional $50,000… through grants and through other donor stewardship.

“We’d like to raise $300,000 this first year,” Sidder added. “The city has given the commitment for at least $100,000 and then once that is spent, an additional $100,000 can be allocated.”

Housing Whitefish is $50,000 from its first-year goal. 

Prior to voting unanimously to support the Whitefish Assistance Program, many councilors, as well as Mayor John Muhlfeld, thanked Sidder for his work on this program. 

“Daniel, thanks very much,” Muhlfeld said. “I also want to give a big shout-out to the Chamber board, as well as Explore Whitefish, for your generous contributions. It’s much appreciated. It takes partners, and we’re going to get there.”

According to Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith’s report, city staff drafted an agreement between the city and Housing Whitefish to account for the $200,000 contribution to the program. 

“They will be reporting to us funds committed and expended, households served and other significant data of importance that we find as we move through this pilot program on a quarterly basis,” Smith said. 

The two parties will also have an annual review of the funding criteria and policies, the council can have input on any significant changes, and the city will be able to review financial records. 

Sidder said his organization is currently finalizing the application and all the outreach materials, and getting more feedback from community members who will be applying for the assistance. He said their goal is to be reviewing applications for the first round on March 31.

The official launch is planned for Jan. 15, when the website will go live, applications can be submitted and press releases about the program will go out.

“If any renters are listening, we are looking for as much feedback as we can get,“ Sidder added. “The more we can hear from folks that will be applying, that will be really helpful.”

For more information, visit: www.housingwhitefish.org