Stories & Data
Each and everyone of us has a different lived experience with housing in Gallatin County. Below are stories from participants that bring light to housing challenges from their own perspectives. Sharing these stories with quantitative data is the first step towards finding solutions to housing challenges in our community.
“Every person at the table knows students who are living in their vehicles right now!!! They are all very concerned for winter coming on and the welfare of their fellow students who are houseless.”
“One participant shared her story of going through a divorce recently, got equity for the house, but is paying much more than a third of her income on housing ($2100/month for a 2 bedroom apt), has lived here for 21 years, but doesn’t know if she’ll be able to be here next year.”
“A few staff members talked about how they experienced significant rent increases even over a years time, sometimes short notice (such as 30 days) for rent spikes were given.
One staff member voiced that the average house cost in Bozeman has risen greatly and that realizing the difference in time and house prices is shocking. With this, it was said that wages have not increased enough to keep up with rising costs.
Further, staff indicated that even having two incomes does not secure a house in the valley, it is still not always affordable.”
“Our two participants exchanged numbers to continue the conversation, one will let her know if her current tenant moves out so she can move into her empty apartment.”
“I am willing to view housing not as a way to build wealth, or as a financial asset or way to make money, but as a basic need, a stable place to live. If I ever own a home, and if I were ever ready to sell, I’m willing to not sell my house for as much as it is worth according to the market.”
“The housing situation in Big Sky is worse than I realized or anticipated. I heard stories about people living in closets, storage units and campsites.”
“There is an increase in the unhoused. There are restrictions on what we can do to help them, and what we can’t to do. And limitations on asking them to move or leave a public street. It would be great to have public information to share about these limitations and the efforts being undertaken to help them, and also mitigate the impact of having public camping/living on a public street. “
“Montana is still the wild west without regulation.”
“How can we leverage the wealth in the Bozeman community, not just for recreation and wildlife/landscape conservation, but for human beings in need of stable and affordable places to live?”
“The county would be a better more welcoming place if so many people were not so racist (including landlords), we work really hard and contribute to the economy and aren’t treated equally.”
“Big Sky is hitting a breaking point and needs solutions that benefit the renters, the landlords, the developers and the employers in order to move forward.“
“How burnt out can I stay for how long?“
“Very new and moved here in April. Accepted job post graduate degree in a relevant field. Informed that cost was going to be an issue but I didn’t realize that space availability was going to be an issue. I was in a hotel for a month and I searched for a place to live. I found a place out of luck.”
“There is a huge lack of accessible or universally designed housing options in Bozeman for people with mobility challenges and physical or developmental disabilities. Reach Inc. has no more capacity and needs funding to fix up existing residential facilities and build a new one near their work center, but zoning is making that prohibitive. Accessible transportation options are also a limitation for meeting clients needs.”
“All the housing is single family and large lots without apartments and trailer courts, and all are upper market and fancy at $500k-$2M until you get to Three Forks then becomes more affordable. We had manufactured homes in the past - Sunlight development with access at $50K and then they became a condo and now $300K. So when these are out of time for affordable units they return to market rates. Allow trailer courts. We need smaller lot developments.”
“I am willing to stand up in front of commissioners and developers. 911 lost 6 employees in 6 months, they can’t afford to live here and we cannot afford to lose employees. Rent went from $2100 to $3100. The cost of living is so high. Our director position at $80K we can’t fill it because they cant afford to live here on that salary. Our assistant director left.”
“Challenge privilege and “self made” narrative and ideology. Being part of the community means helping those who are less fortunate.“
“Housing affordability has always been an issue here. I have been delivering for food bank, working with the health department, since I moved here in 1995. I moved to Gallatin Gateway and I had to commute into Bozeman because I couldn’t afford to live in Bozeman. Transportation, traffic and commuting costs are huge. Transportation options other than a car need to be a part of housing affordability solutions. We tend to concentrate on wages and building more housing, but the other factors are important too.”
“The right to have a chance at a decent life is more fundamental than the right to make money hand over fist. We have to educate and change minds by challenging the big money out there controlling the narrative.”
“It was a painful but necessary conversation. We left feeling demoralized but if we don’t talk about it, it won’t change.”
“Others noted the tremendous amount of money that goes to conservation efforts in this valley…how could we get people excited about housing in that same way?”
“I have seen an increased level of participation in our community and they’re starting to understand how these changes are occurring and the government processes, which opens up greater understanding of how they can participate.”
“These are articulate and passionate people, who nevertheless were respectful of one another’s opinions, of the time they each took to voice their own opinions. Which is to say, I came away thinking that there is a core of longtime residents here who love this place, myself included. They are committed to solutions and to problem solving, not to lying, to blustering, to screaming, to name-calling, to disingenuity. This group gives me hope; this group reminds me why I myself continue to fight to make this the place I want to be.”
“Redefine what is “normal”.”
“The process for applying for support resources is really burdensome
I had to take a day off to apply to food stamps”, “I lost my Medicaid and food stamps when I made an extra $50 one month, and it took such effort to get these reinstated (single mom)”
“I feel helpless to do anything. I’m just one person. My college aged kids won’t be able to move home or live near us with wages not in line with housing prices.”
“I was in construction for 10 years and during covid got laid off and then incarcerated. When I am in jail I lose everything and I don’t have support and resources because my family doesn’t live here. I don’t have anyone to carry me through. and then the cycle of getting in trouble and coming back to jail repeats. I need help to step back into the community for the transition out of jail. Not everyone gets pre-release services. I had a job but was sleeping in my car and couldn’t get rest because I was cold and struggle with drug addiction. In pandemic after 7 years sober I went back to drugs and my relationship ended and took everything and I have to start over. I don’t want to ask the community for help but I was depressed and couldn’t pick up the pieces. we bought a house 3 years ago in Belgrade and had a good business but now I need a place when I am released. Biggest problem is political and the socialists / marxists devaluing America. we need to house workers.”
“Less than 1% of housing is wheelchair accessible and 5% is limited mobility accessible. That means when housing is limited for everyone else, it is nearly 100 times more difficult for community members in wheelchairs.”
“Currently I make about $20/hr typically. Sometimes $40 for bigger events. The average apartment costs a little over $2000 a month and they want you to show 3 times that in income in order to qualify. At that hourly rate I’d have to put in around 300 hours a month. I get close, I’m probably hitting 260 some months. I’m couch surfing and living in a van.”
“You make it way too expensive to live here. My rent is $1725. Electric more than $350, Groceries more than $1000. Water $70. Garbage $50. All the rich people are making all the prices go up. We don’t matter. Not enough income for the cost per month. You should be ashamed.”
“My participants were demoralized and felt powerless. They thought that the people in power should address this. For example, why has President Cruzado been silent on this? What about Commissioner Christian? They need to say something now and help struggling employees. It is NOT OKAY that some of our employees need to use the food bank because their rent doesn’t allow them to afford groceries?”
“Every group must be involved. And individuals, too. While government has a role it cannot be solely responsible. Individuals must adjust their perspective of how Bozeman will change. Businesses must pay wages that provide sufficient money to afford decent housing. Government can support diversifying housing opportunities.”
“We say this a collective issue, but is it really?”
“Use the word Attainable housing. Not affordable or community incentives for building housing that’s affordable.”