Displaced residents highlight need to be bold on housing

The harsh reality of the Flathead Valley’s housing crisis is set to avalanche onto the streets after about 100 long-term guests at the FairBridge Inn received notice that they will need to be out of the motel by Feb. 12.

The inn and convention center in South Kalispell was recently purchased by a Portland, Oregon company that has submitted plans to redevelop the site into 250 studio apartments. The project goes before the City Council on Feb. 7.

Daily Inter Lake reporter Bret Anne Serbin spoke with some of the people now facing homelessness during the throes of a Montana winter, and their options are grim. Some will likely be living out of their vehicle or bouncing between temporary housing alternatives, while others will have to leave the community altogether.

Tonya Horn, executive director of the Flathead Warming Center, told the City Council the situation was on the verge of a “community emergency,” with the displaced residents set to strain the community’s already strapped social safety net.

Councilors responded that they felt “helpless” to intervene in the situation.

It’s true that land-use decisions can’t be arbitrary or based upon emotion. If a use is allowed within a certain zoning district, the city has little recourse to prevent it — even if it means dozens of people will be displaced.

Likewise, the developers behind the project shouldn’t be faulted for seeking to reinvest in a blighted area, while aiming to create hundreds of desperately needed affordable units.

The sad truth is that another scenario like this is more likely than ever, given the area’s red hot housing market.

So what can we do to steer clear of another “community emergency” going forward?

Let’s start with compassion and preparation. We must ensure the social safety net is there and ready when it’s needed most.

We’re fortunate to have places like the warming center, Ray of Hope, Samaritan House, Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana, and all of our area’s food banks that are ready to assist displaced residents while their housing situation is in flux. These groups and others are worthy of continued support — both financially and through volunteers. Their services are invaluable for our community’s most vulnerable residents.

We also need our city councils and state legislators to be bold and do more to harness their power to spur along the creation of additional affordable housing units. Time is of the essence.

Gov. Greg Gianforte vetoed last session a Republican-led bill that would have established a workforce housing tax credit program, instead favoring a path of deregulation. Some of Kalispell’s councilors have expressed a similar philosophy.

While we agree that simplifying the permit process is appropriate and useful, incentivizing housing projects through tax credits or a reduction of impact fees shouldn’t be off the table — particularly when the economics of developing affordable units is measured against the skyrocketing costs of building in this area. And for some communities, mandatory inclusionary zoning just makes sense.

We can’t settle for feeling powerless when there are tools right in front of us.

Let’s put them to use, while simultaneously making sure our safety net is ready for the next community emergency.