Montana’s Facing an Affordable Housing Crisis and Rep. Rosendale Keeps Voting Against Solutions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
CONTACT
hadley@montanademocrats.org
Helena, MT – The COVID-19 Pandemic exacerbated Montana’s already overburdened housing supply. Today, there is a 18,538 shortage of rental homes available for extremely low income renters, who represent 24% of all Montana renters. According to the state’s annual Labor Day Report, Montana home prices increased by 44% and newly advertised rents grew 20% in the two years ending with Q1 of 2022.
As the state has struggled to handle the influx of new residents during the pandemic, the Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided critical support for states to address their housing crises. Unsurprisingly, Montana’s radical and out-of-touch Representative Rosendale voted no on all of this:
Rosendale voted:
NO on emergency rental assistance, to help millions of families keep up on their rent and remain in their homes.
NO on Homeowner Assistance Fund, that helps homeowners behind on their mortgage and utility payments avoid foreclosure and eviction.
NO on Emergency housing vouchers for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
NO on Housing assistance and supportive services programs for Native Americans to help reduce housing-related health risks during the pandemic.
NO on Emergency assistance for rural housing to specifically help people in rural communities keep their homes during the pandemic.
NO on Relief measures for section 502 and 504 direct loan borrowers, which help low and very-low income borrowers purchase, repair, and rehabilitate housing in rural areas, while helping existing borrowers who are struggling to afford housing.
“It’s remarkable: Rosendale seems to be committed to making people’s lives worse – not better,” says Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “Our state is facing a housing crisis, and Rep. Rosendale couldn’t care less about finding solutions and cutting costs for Montana families and workers.”
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