Habitat for Humanity homes going up south of airport

A few discounted homes will be built in the West Post neighborhood west of Alaska S. Road and south of Stone River Road. The homes aren’t for the poor but will be available to middle class people through Habitat for Humanity.

“The middle class often gets the short end of the stick, because they make too much to be able to qualify for low-income housing benefits, and they don't make quite enough to get into the market rate,” said Jason Sakran, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Gallatin County. “So, the lane that you want to work in here, at least initially for me, is kind of that missing middle. So it's teachers, police officers, firefighters, trades people.”

There will be eight total Habitat for Humanity homes at West Post, according to Sakran. Two of the houses broke ground last month and should be finished in late fall or early winter.

“The intent is to turn the keys over to the new homeowners sometime before the new year,” Sakran said.

Habitat for Humanity is looking for people who may be interested and qualify for the homes. For example, a family of four with two working parents and a household income of $80,000 to $100,000 could qualify, according to Sakran.

"We’ve sent out initial emails to 40 applicants that have indicated interest,” he said. “Fourteen have come back with applications. And we're in the process of working through those applications now to see if they qualify. Because some might not make enough, and some might make too much.”

He’s already found that a few of the applicants don’t make enough money to qualify.

“I get a sense from the community that when people think of Habitat, they're like, ‘I probably make too much money.’ And I think people that are low-income are probably like, ‘Oh, this is perfect for me," Sakran said. "The challenge for this particular project is, it's that missing middle. I think the middle class — you know, regular Montana workers — probably think they make too much. So that challenge from a communication standpoint is convincing people this is really for what I call working Montana families. You know, it's not necessarily low-income or folks that are one step away from home displacement or housing insecurity.”

Successful applicants would be asked to help with things such as painting, some interior finish work, and landscaping, according to Sakran.

“They also have the opportunity to volunteer at the ReStore,” he said.

The Habitat ReStore, at 230 Arden Drive in Belgrade, sells new and gently used appliances, furniture, clothes, building supplies and more to help fund the nonprofit's home ownership program.

Those who would like to apply for a Habitat home can visit https://www.habitatbozeman.org/applicant-interest-form.