Neighborhood Ambassador’s March Newsletter
A Renter’s Guide to City Offices
Renters share concerns regarding their neighborhood, but they also face challenges regarding landlord disputes and displacement. Engaging with local government on these issues is important, but it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here is a guide of city offices with functions that particularly pertain to renter’s in Missoula.
If you are curious about land use, infrastructure, budgeting, or have any concerns about our community, look to the City Council
As the elected, policy making body for the City of Missoula, it is the City Council’s duty to set policies that will assist all City of Missoula departments in promoting the general health, safety and welfare of city residents.
Location: 140 W Pine St
Email: council@missoula.mt.us
Website: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/314/City-Council
You can find your city council ward here.
If you need rental assistance or are searching for affordable housing look to Missoula Housing Authority
MHA provides federal and other affordable rental housing assistance and supportive services to low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled.
MHA Functions:
- HUD Section 8 Housing Voucher
- HUD Shelter Plus Care program
- HUD Low Rent Public Housing Program
- HUD Single Room Occupancy Housing
- Russell Square Tax Credit Property
- Affordable housing development
- Affordable housing technical assistance
- Community rental market information
- Location: 1235 34th St
Phone: 406–549–4113
Email: info@missoulahousing.org
Website: https://missoulahousing.org
If you have ideas to improve your neighborhood or want to engage with local government look to the Office of Neighborhoods
The Office of Neighborhoods coordinates and provides technical assistance for the Neighborhood council system, Community Forum, and other neighborhood organizations.
Office of Neighborhoods functions:
- Administers neighborhood grant programs
- Assists citizens in communicating with city government
- Inform citizens on neighborhood council meetings, special events, neighborhood maps, contact information, monthly newsletter, and city ordinances.
- Location: 435 Ryman St.
Every neighborhood in Missoula has a council that you are a part of! find your neighborhood and the council meeting times here.
Phone: (406) 552–6081
Email: neighborhods@ci.missoula.mt.us
Website: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/298/Neighborhoods
If you traffic signal concerns, wondering why your street is not being plowed, or questions about transportation options look to the Public Works Department
The Public Works & Mobility Department strives to ensure a high quality of life for Missoula’s citizens, visitors, and businesses by providing services essential for safe, healthy living and working environments as well as safe travel on local roadways. Within the Public Works Department there are multiple divisions including; Building inspection, Engineering, Street Maintenance, Traffic Services, Vehicle maintenance, Wastewater Treatment, and a Bicycle/Pedestrian program.
Location: 140 West Pine St.
Email: publicworks@ci.missoula.mt.us
Website: https://ci.missoula.mt.us/403/Public-Works-Mobility
If you are wondering what housing policies the city has or questions about zoning look to the Community Planning, Development, and Innovation Division
Community Planning, Development, & Innovation promotes equitable growth and a resilient, sustainable community through the creation of innovative programs, policies and planning, and the efficient and responsive application of code and delivery of development services.
Phone: 406–552–6630
Website: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/2728/Community-Planning-Development-Innovatio
Make your voice heard! Advocating for solution to the everyday issues you face is a crucial step in achieving change. If you are looking for more information and ways to get involved, you can find the schedule of city meetings, minutes, and agendas, below.
Keep Your Neighborhood Safe This Spring Break
With Spring Break next week and the weather rising above 50 degrees, you can probably expect to see some more parties in your neighborhood. Here are some helpful tips on how to keep you neighborhood safe for everyone!
If you are planning to have a get together-
Tip#1 Give your contact information to your neighbor! Let them know your plans. This way they can come to you if they are worried about noise levels.
Tip#2 Keep the noise down. Missoula’s noise ordinance states the maximum acceptable decibel level in residential areas is 60 decibels, while from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. it is 55 decibels. You can be fined up to $300 for violating the noise ordinance! 55 decibels is comparable to the sound of a coffee grinder or an electric toothbrush!
Tip #3 Do not leave the party with an open drink in hand. It is illegal and unsafe! And may draw unwanted attention to your party.
Tip #4 Remember you are responsible for the actions of all guests at your party. This mean you can be held liable for serving underage guest or any damages to property.
Tip #5 Do not let anyone who has been drinking drive home. Call an Uber, taxi, a sober friend, or arrange to stay the night.
Did you follow all the tips above and still have frustrated neighbors? Try the tips and tricks below to address conflict before it escalates!
Tip #1: Get to know your neighbor! Introducing yourself to your neighbors right when you move in can open a line of communication that can help prevent conflict down the line! (So this one needs to happen before the party starts, but better late than never!)
Tip #2: Talk it out! Did your neighbor knock on your door to tell you the party was too loud? Hear them out, and then make a plan to reach a compromise! Maybe your friends will only be over for another 45 minutes anyway, or maybe it’s time to turn down the music by a couple notches. Reaching a compromise here can show your neighbor that you’re happy to work with them which prevents future conflict!
Tip #3: So you tried to reach a compromise but things escalated anyway, what next? Reach out to ASUM Legal Services! Their team can help you understand how to navigate this conflict, to what extent the law is involved, and what steps you may need to take to reach a solution. Make an appointment online.
Resource of the Month: MontPIRG
The Montana Public Interest Research Group (MontPIRG) is a student directed and funded non-partisan organization dedicated to affecting tangible, positive change through educating and empowering the next generation of civic leaders. Whether its landlord reviews, their tenant landlord guide, or online renter hotline, MontPIRG offers amazing resources for renters across Montana. MontPIRG’s renter survey helps them to understand the scale of the problem and better advocate for solutions. Tell your story today!
Insights From Community Listening Sessions
In February, The Community Development Division of Community Planning, Development and Innovation hosted community listening sessions to hear from residents about their experiences, concerns, and solution ideas to inform future policy strategies. The Community Development division is exploring potential policy solutions to support residents impacted by housing displacement. Displacement occurs when households lose their housing due to external reasons. Market and neighborhood-level factors such as low available stock and rising housing demand can lead owners of rental properties to raise rents when leases expire, sell or repurpose their properties to realize a higher rate of return.
The City of Missoula is currently focused on implementing many strategies to address urgent housing needs for Missoulians. A Place to Call Home, the city-wide housing policy sets a clear blueprint of the city’s plan. The policies within A Place to Call Home are grouped into four areas: Track and analyze progress for continuous improvement; Align and leverage existing funding resources to support housing; Reduce barriers to new supply and promote access to affordable homes; Partner to create and preserve dedicated affordable homes.
The city also adopted The Affordable Housing Trust Fund in July 2020. Since August 2021, there have been two grant rounds. Projects that can apply for grant funding include consumer housing services, preservation and rehabilitation of current affordable housing, and new construction of affordable housing. If the projects are funded, approved, and go to plan there is an estimated addition of 482 affordable housing units to the City of Missoula within the next 5 years.
Ideas and concerns expressed at February’s community listening sessions along with two more listening sessions this March with partners from the Poverello Center will help shape the recommendations. The Community Development Division of Community Planning, Development and Innovation plan to share with the public and leadership by April. Aubrey Godbey, the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Coordinator, says, “At this point we anticipate sharing local recommendations and working with state legislators to share the challenges exacerbated by the Landlord Tenant Act and a slate of recommendations at that level. In addition to the funding strategies and community and policy work around displacement, we are also developing a voluntary incentives program that partners with developers to promote the development of affordable housing. We expect to provide a public update on this work by May 2022.”
Policy addressing housing takes time and lots of community engagement. Students living in Missoula are impacted by the housing crisis as much as anyone else. Share your experiences with renting and displacement in Missoula and offer the city feedback on their plans for the future of housing! The Housing Displacement Survey will be open until March 25th. The Affordable Housing Resident Oversight Committee provides guidance and oversight on Housing Policy and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. They meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 6–8pm. Meetings are public and there is always time and space for public comment.
