Accessing Missoula’s housing programs
In February the ASUM Renter Center released our second annual #RealCollege survey report about food insecurity, housing insecurity, and homelessness among UM students.
Among many important revelations in the report, it is striking just how few students access housing resources. According to the report, “Of the students experiencing basic needs insecurity at The University of Montana, only about 23% use on-campus supports.” As bad as that sounds, the disconnect for homeless students is worse: “3% of students who experience homelessness receive housing assistance.”
With numbers so low, students might need even the most basic information about services. Hence, this post.
This article does not mean you are on your own to access services. Contact the ASUM Renter Center, and we can help you navigate the system. However, these are some of the critical resources I have referred people to in my work in housing and human services.
Emergency shelter and Missoula’s Coordinated Entry System
If you are experiencing homelessness, you might look into staying at Poverello Center, Missoula’s largest homeless shelter. If your household includes children or you are a woman fleeing domestic violence, you should also look into YWCA Missoula.
Those agencies are also access points for the Missoula Coordinated Entry System (MCES). If you are literally homeless, meaning you do not know where you can sleep tonight, MCES is kind of the one-stop shop for emergency housing programs, so getting an intake is essential to getting housing assistance.
You can also sign up for the MCES at the Salvation Army or by calling 211 .
Call in advance
MCES currently has very high traffic, so you may have better luck calling one of the “front door” agencies rather than walking in:
- Poverello Center: (406) 728–1809
- YWCA: (406) 543–6691
- Salvation Army: (406) 549–0710
- 211: literally dial 2–1–1 on your phone
On-campus resources
Before UM students venture out into the community, they should take advantage of the off-campus resources that can often provide more immediate, comprehensive assistance. Contact the Financial Aid Office about grants and loans that can help. The ASUM Renter Center can help you work through problems with a landlord or roommate. Need help budgeting or improving your credit? Sounds like a job for the Financial Education Program.
Help paying for housing: “Section 8” and other vouchers
There is a lot of misunderstanding about housing vouchers such as the housing vouchers (a.k.a. “Section 8”). Yes, there are not enough of these resources to go around, and it can take a couple of years to receive assistance.
But the sooner you start that clock ticking, the better. And you can maximize your chances of securing a housing voucher or other subsidy by applying as soon as you can, and getting on all the lists as you are eligible for. In Missoula, there are two separate waiting lists:
- Missoula.house This is Missoula Housing Authority’s waiting list. Click “Applicant Login” and create an account. You’ll see waiting lists for a number of programs. Don’t get hung up on one property; sign up for everything you are eligible for. Remember, it could be several years from now that the assistance comes through.
- State of Montana Housing Choice Vouchers This is a separate waiting list from Missoula Housing Authority’s. Depending on where you are in the state, a different agency will manage your application and voucher. In Missoula, Ravalli, and Mineral Counties, it would be the Human Resource Council.
For both lists, you will want to have as much information handy as possible, including social security numbers and information about your income and assets. You might not know the answer to every question, but do your best to be complete and accurate.
Affordable housing
Missoula also has a number of “affordable housing” properties that are funded by programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and the HOME program. Unlike with housing vouchers, these properties have flat rent that is not based on 30% of your income going toward rent. However, they are usually less expensive than comparable units in the private market.
In Missoula, most of these properties are owned by the Missoula Housing Authority or Homeword. They are advertised in the same channels as private rentals, and you can find them at the State of Montana’s website MTHousingsearch.com
Restrictions on students
Not all student households can qualify for all of these programs. According to US Housing Consultants, HUD-funded programs such as vouchers are not available to a student if all of the following apply:
* Is under the age of 24;
* Is not a veteran of the United States military;
* Is unmarried (if married, the couple cannot live apart from each other);
* Does not have a dependent child who resides with the household member at least 50% of the time;
* Is not a person with disabilities receiving Section 8 assistance as of November 30, 2005;
* Is not otherwise individually eligible or has parents who (individually or jointly) are not income eligible to receive Section 8 assistance, unless the student can demonstrate his or her independence from his/her parents*.
* Is not residing with parents who are receiving or applying for Section 8 assistance.
LIHTC is even more strict. A household of all students is assumed not to be eligible unless at least one of the following applies:
* A student receiving assistance under Title IV of the Social Security Act (TANF); or
* A student who was previously in the foster care program; or
* A student enrolled in a job training program receiving assistance under the Job Training Partnership Act or under other Federal, State or local laws; or
* The household is comprised of single parents and their children and such parents are not dependents of another individual and such children are not dependents of another individual other than a parent of such children. In the case of a single parent with children, the legislative history explains that none of the tenants (parent or children) can be a dependent of a third party; or
* The household contains a married couple entitled to file joint tax returns.
But students should not lose heart, and service providers should not assume students are ineligible. The #RealCollege survey had numerous respondents who were older, parenting, veterans, and members of other groups that can qualify for housing assistance. And people in those subpopulations were more likely to experience housing insecurity. Also, remember that you are applying for housing help you might get months or years in the future, and your situation could be different then.
It should also be noted that the Silvertip Apartments are an affordable housing complex with no student restrictions.
The ASUM Renter Center is here to help
This is a lot of information about housing programs, but I don’t expect you to be an expert after reading one post. Finding out more about housing programs is a great reason to meet with the ASUM Renter Center. So get in touch at 406–243–2017 or https://www.umt.edu/rentercenter
