Missoula County and the City of Missoula are excited to announce a mixed-use development that will provide homes to individuals and families on fixed incomes, dedicate permanent supportive housing to people experiencing chronic homelessness in our community, and open a navigation center to support people with high barriers to housing, including those re-entering our community from the criminal justice system. This development is made possible through a four-acre land donation by Missoula County. This collaboration highlights Missoula County and the City of Missoula’s commitment to achieve the goals outlined in Reaching Home: Missoula’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness and the Jail Diversion Master Plan. Both adopted plans call for the development of permanent supportive housing and point to the effectiveness of these models in providing better outcomes for individuals and the community. Missoula County and the City of Missoula will remain strong partners in this project as it moves through development and into operation. Homes Missoulians Can Afford Missoula Housing Authority (MHA), Homeword and Blueline Development are proposing the construction of 202 affordable homes. Through a scattered site approach, they will provide homes to individuals and families on two separate parcels of land. Roughly 130 of the homes will be constructed on the parcel of land donated by Missoula County, located off Mullan Road. Of these 130 homes, 30 be reserved as permanent supportive housing and will be rented to individuals referred through the Missoula Coordinated Entry System. Permanent supportive housing, which combines housing assistance with voluntary support services, is a proven solution to addressing the needs of people who experience chronic homelessness, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The remaining 100 homes at this site will be rented to individuals who make below 60% of area median income ($30,840). Roughly 70 apartments at the site of the former Skyview Mobile Home Park, on Missoula’s Westside, will also provide homes to families who make below 60% of area median income ($43,980 for a family of four). MHA and Homeword bring vast experience in the construction and operation of affordable housing in Missoula. Recent examples of their work include Sweetgrass Commons (Homeword) and Silvertip Apartments (MHA). Additionally, Blueline Development has extensive experience in developing and managing permanent supportive housing. This work is highlighted in their most recent development, Arroyo Villages, and the Dolores project (https://www.thedeloresproject.org/arroyo-village/). City and County leaders, along with community partners, are scheduled to visit this development in Denver later this summer. Supportive Programming This development also will provide comprehensive on-site programming through the construction of a navigation center. Navigation centers are low-threshold, high-service programs for people experiencing chronic homelessness and people re-entering our community from the criminal justice system. The navigation center will be open 24 hours a day to meet community need and to support law enforcement, our local hospitals and emergency responders answering calls for service related to homelessness and addiction to ensure better individual and community outcomes. Several providers have committed to bringing their longstanding expertise to this project, and new partnerships will be established as program development continues. Open Aid Alliance, The Poverello Center and Partnership Health Center are working with the development team to design comprehensive supportive programming that aims to break the cycle of chronic homelessness and to support people with high barriers to housing. The following services have initially been identified as essential for the ongoing success and stability of those utilizing the navigation center and living in the permanent supportive housing program: