Local housing group going through changes

The Daily Inter Lake

A local loose-knit affordable housing coalition is going through some mild reorganization and soul-searching.

The Housing Affordability Ladder is a collection of people and groups interested in boosting affordable housing in Flathead County.

In the past, it has provided advice to the city of Kalispell.

Cal Scott, the group's chairman, is stepping down from leading it due to other obligations, but will remain active in the coalition. Kate Logsdon will coordinate the group's meetings but does not have time for an active leadership role.

The coalition is changing from monthly meetings to bi-monthly meetings with the next one at noon April 22 at the Insured Title Building in Kalispell.

At a recent meeting, members wanted to keep HAL as a loose-knit networking system on affordable housing issues.

They discussed, but reached no conclusion, whether the group should set up an affordable housing blog. Members have been wondering about whether the coalition should set some more defined goals.

Flathead County's median income is $49,000 a year - meaning half of the families earn above that mark and half below.

Local housing experts say a family earning $49,000 realistically can afford homes of up to $150,000. But very few houses sell for $150,000 or less in the Flathead.

A 2007 Daily Inter Lake check of families making $20,000 to $40,000 annually had them pegging affordable housing at no more than $120,000 to $130,000. At that same time, interviews with local developers put affordable housing in the $160,000 to $225,000 range.