Montana’s Housing Crisis: A Call for Federal Action

— May 18, 2025 —

Montana is grappling with a severe housing affordability crisis.

The state has been labeled the least affordable housing market in the U.S., with the median home price soaring to approximately $505,000, a 90% increase since 2018.

Median household income has risen by only 28% in the same period.

As we travel the state hosting roundtables, one question we ask every group is what a typical one-bedroom apartment runs monthly in their community. Some might be surprised to learn that the average price of a monthly rental ($1,200-1,500) is roughly the same whether you're in Anaconda or Kalispell.

Wages are simply not growing to meet these prices.

Statewide, there are only 45 affordable rental homes available for every 100 low-income households, resulting in a shortage of over 15,000 units. Nearly a quarter of Montana renters spend more than half of their monthly income on rent, exacerbating financial instability.

While rental rates are slightly lower in the eastern part of the state, the median cost for homes in the most affordable areas of Montana are still pushing $300,000, just out of reach for working people in these communities with salaries of $50,000 a year at best.

In Bozeman, the situation is even more dire, with median home prices nearing $1 million, making homeownership unattainable for many residents. In response, Montana has enacted several legislative measures aimed at increasing housing supply. These include laws permitting accessory dwelling units, duplexes in single-family zones, and mixed-use developments. However, these efforts have faced legal challenges from groups opposing increased housing density.

To address these challenges on a national scale, federal initiatives like the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act have been proposed. This legislation aims to invest in the construction of nearly 3 million new housing units, provide down payment assistance to first-time and first-generation homebuyers, and incentivize local governments to eliminate restrictive zoning laws. It also seeks to limit the role of private equity in the housing market and strengthen anti-discrimination laws.

The private sector also must invest in our housing infrastructure in order to attract and maintain a stable workforce. With housing security comes employment and employer security.

Who will staff our prisons and hospitals, our schools and our public services if we cannot house these workforces?

Steve Daines doesn't care if Montanans have a place to live. He is silent on this issue. He promised more jobs and less government but without housing in this equation, Montana simply does not prosper. We actually suffer and we are suffering. We hear this at every single roundtable across Montana.

People are suffering. They're barely making the rent and so many feel they'll never afford a home.

Every Montanan deserves a home. I have a plan to win and be the Senator from Montana who gives a damn about working Montanans having a decent place to live.

As Montana continues to confront its housing crisis, the integration of robust federal policies is essential to ensure that affordable housing becomes a reality for all residents.

Above all, we cannot ignore this problem. It is a problem; it's one of the biggest problems facing the state today. I will find and deliver a solution.