Housing Conditions in Billings Montana

In Billings, the median home price is $177,500. A family earning the median household income of $48,470 cannot afford the median priced home. Instead, the same family could afford about 40% of the homes on the housing market. Unfortunately these lower-priced homes need improvements that make them too costly for median income home buyers. In addition, 40% of households in Billings earned less than $35,000, and 15% earned less than $15,000. In these situations, families living paycheck to paycheck are unable to afford the improvements required to make their homes decent and safe.

Outta sight, outta mind

Project Homeless Connect 2010

The 4th annual Billings Project Homeless Connect event was sponsored by the Billings Area Resource Network and the City of Billings. Project Homeless Connect is a one-day, one-stop event designed to connect homeless and near-homeless community members to free resources including housing, employment and education assistance, healthcare, legal aid and clothing. The 2010 event featured 50 social service providers and served 577 individuals.

For more information about Project Homeless Connect in Billings, please contact:
Joe Chalupa
Director, The HUB
(406) 248-4803 x 100
jchalupa@scmrmhc.org

Project Homeless Connect: a hand up and out of poverty

Billings Flash Mob: Spare Change for Real Change

'Welcome Home Billings' in Real Life

This mother and her eight-month-old son are residents of Second Chance Homes, a non-profit that works to break the cycle of addiction within families. According to the annual point-in-time housing survey, addiction is the number one cause of homelessness in Billings. Anti-addiction and other homeless prevention initiatives are outlined in Welcome Home Billings.


‘Welcome Home Billings,’ the Mayor’s Committee on Homelessness’ ten-year plan to end homelessness, is approved and the war on poverty begins. Over 400 people worked on the plan and experienced firsthand why the Committee was needed. Interviewing individuals from local shelters and day centers explains why the top four goals of ‘Welcome Home Billings’ are housing, prevention, services and assets. Here are some stories.

Michael and his family arrived in Billings with three suitcases, $81, and a criminal record. Struggling to overcome tremendous obstacles, he applied everywhere for employment. At MasterLube, a Social Enterprise business that employs at-risk populations, Michael was given a job which helped him get back on his feet. “I’m really excited about the opportunities they are giving me,” he said. “I can go somewhere and be something.” ‘Welcome Home Billings’ supports the expansion of community-based, criminal reentry programs and increased advocacy for visionary businesses like MasterLube and the Downtown Billings Improvement District.

Both Audrey and her husband, Mike, worked full time but lost their car and their home. “We would save money,” she said, “but when you don’t make that much, it’s hard to hold onto it for emergencies.” Unable to afford the initial expenses for a new residence, the couple took their children to the shelter. ‘Welcome Home Billings’ expresses the need for more affordable housing and will utilize housing first and rapid re-housing philosophies.

Due to circumstances beyond his control, Stephen found himself homeless with two year old Skylar and was forced to go to the shelter. Without family and few friends here, he struggles to find child care during his late night shift work. Although he has an Associate degree in Medical Science, he is forced to sacrifice opportunities to care for his son. To prevent situations like this, ‘Welcome Home Billings’ plans to establish childcare assistance, mentoring support systems, and life skills trainings.

Sometimes, living in poverty is not a choice. “Lots of people at the Mission have suffered great loss of self-respect. Many have lost the drive to get them out of the rut,” says John, a former Mission resident. ‘Welcome Home Billings’ will provide more opportunities to help individuals succeed.

Homeless not Hopeless: Michael's Story

They didn’t have much—just three suitcases, three backpacks and three hearts looking for a fresh start. On July 18, 2009, Michael, his pregnant fiancée Dominique, and her four-year-old daughter Star got on a plane to Billings, Montana with a total of $81 in their pockets. Although Mike was born and raised in Arizona, he and his family were seeking a second chance in Billings.

The oldest of four children, Mike has seen his share of hard times. His father left when Mike was just eight years old and he admits that he was a wild, rebellious teen who acted out of hurt and anger. Although he worked steadily as a young man, Mike had trouble finding work after serving time in jail for aggravated assault in Phoenix. After completing his sentence, he had a new determination to do better for himself and his family. He got a new job and was optimistic about his future, but as his hours dwindled, he soon found himself unemployed. For the next two months, Mike submitted applications—over 200 of them. “Before, I didn’t have a problem getting a job,” he said. But company after company made it clear that they would not hire him because of his background. Finally, out of desperation, Mike and Dominique decided to sell everything they owned and move to Billings.

Once in Billings, they arranged to stay with Dominique’s uncle until they could find jobs and a place to live. While Dominique and Star visited family in Great Falls for a few weeks, Mike set out to search for a job —on foot and with no place to truly call home—canvassing street after street, submitting application after application. Then Mike came across MasterLube, a company that specializes in oil changes, car washes and glass repairs. After sharing his story and explaining his desire for a fresh start, Mike was told that his application would be hand-delivered to the manager of GlassDoctor, the glass repair branch of MasterLube. He was interviewed two days later and despite his far from typical history, was asked to start the next day. It began looking like he was finally going to get his chance for a new life.

After two weeks on the job, Mike ran into a bit of trouble and ended up in jail. Four days later, MasterLube’s management bailed him out and he was back at work by noon. But Mike’s problems didn’t end there—because of the situation that landed him in jail, Mike was unable to return to his fiancé’s uncle’s home. Fear filled his heart as he thought of breaking the news of moving back to Phoenix to Dominique and Star when they returned from Great Falls. But much to his surprise, a co-worker he barely knew offered him a place to stay for the night.

The next day, MasterLube’s vice president, aware of Mike’s housing situation, began making phone calls on his behalf; they had him an apartment by that Friday. Since the family was unable to afford the initial costs of the apartment, MasterLube paid the application fee, the security deposit and the first month’s rent. In return, a small sum is deducted from Mike’s bi-weekly paycheck and will be until the company is fully reimbursed. While money is still tight, as the couple is working to pay off past bills, Mike is clear about one thing: “MasterLube has given me a living wage and a whole lot more….They do so much for their employees it’s unbelievable.”

MasterLube has proven to be a great aid in the couple’s ability to get on their feet in a new city, and have the dream of a new life come true. “They just put their neck out there and just did it,” Mike says of the company. The company’s generosity has given Mike something essential: hope for the future. “I’m really excited about the opportunities they are going to give me—I can go somewhere and be something….If you don’t like where you are in your life, and you have a goal set…they’re going to help you achieve that goal while you work for them.” Mike also has the support of his family in Arizona. They think his progress is “wonderful.” In fact, his mother, who saw him struggle for years, has a new view of her son: “She’s actually proud of me,” he says.

Mike knows that his new found success would not have been possible without the MasterLube team and the faith they placed in him. After all, he came to them with nothing but the desire to start a new life for his family. In the process, he found that his Billings “family” grew exponentially, as he is quick to point out, “My family out here is Dominique, Star and MasterLube.”

Project Homeless Connect 2009 video!!

This video is a collaboration of photos from Billings Project Homeless Connect 2009 event.

Project Homeless Connect is a one-day community-wide event that provides the opportunity for homeless and near-homeless individuals to connect with services such as housing, support and quality of life resources.

This event has been successfully hosted in Billings for three consecutive years. This years event is scheduled for January 29, 2010 and is currently in the planning process and is in need of team leaders. For more information about Project Homeless Connect 2010 contact Joanna Culver, AmeriCorps*VISTA, @ (406) 657-8289 or email vista3@ci.billings.mt.us.

For more information about the effort to end homelessness in Billings, Montana, the Mayor's Committee on Homelessness or the Ten-year plan to end homelessness in Billings contact Brenda Beckett, Community Development Manager for the City of Billings, @ beckettb@ci.billings.mt.us.



Video created by: Jessica Mowry, AmeriCorps*VISTA, City of Billings/Mayor's Committee on Homelessness