Housing a crisis of identity

One day in the near future we will wake up and live in a Flathead County shaped by decisions made today. What will our future spaces look like? Who will live there? We face a housing crisis, but we also face a crisis of identity.
In recent letters, Nathan Dugan and Mallory Phillips of Shelter Whitefish show us a future that feels true to our past, with open farmland, big skies, and welcoming neighborhoods. They want to preserve our community.
But with the wrong development plans (or none at all) we risk becoming a showcase for extreme wealth and poverty. We risk losing our scenic open landscape.
So let’s help Shelter WF. Our voices influence officials and Shelter WF shows us where to be heard. Their website lists county-wide community development meetings that are open to the public. On social media, Shelter WF shares easy email actions. They offer ideas for development that will preserve our community.
No matter our politics we unite in our love for this place, so let’s create a welcoming home for our future generations. Our cities and counties are making development plans now. Let’s tell them who we want to be. 

— Marti Brandt, Whitefish