Montana’s Affordable Housing Champions Receive Awards
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HELENA, Mont. – Representatives from the Montana Department of Commerce and NeighborWorks Montana presented awards to Montana’s affordable housing champions during the annual Housing Partnership Conference today at Fairmont Hot Springs.
“These awards are presented to organizations and individuals who have shown extraordinary commitment to increasing access to attainable, affordable housing for Montanans,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio.
2026 Housing Champion Award Recipients:
Community Give Back: In addition to the awards, each year the Housing Partnership gives back to the conference’s host city or regions through the “Community Give Back” sponsorship. This year, the sponsorship awarded $2,500 to Anaconda Project Care, on behalf of the Anaconda Housing Authority.
The AHA is currently undertaking its most substantial rehabilitation project since its public housing properties were originally constructed in the 1940s and 1950s. This effort includes PJ Hagan Homes, Mount Haggin Homes and Cedar Park Homes. While AHA is unable to accept donations directly, it works closely with Anaconda Project Care, which helps people, including AHA residents, with food, medicine, gas vouchers, medical assistance and support in emergency situations.
Exceptional Affordable Housing Finance Partner: This is a new award category. In today’s world of reduced housing credit pricing, high market interest rates, increased construction costs and the overall uncertainty of federal funding sources, a reliable and engaged affordable housing finance partner is a must for the success of any project.
Winners: Jennifer Wheeler and Glacier Bank
Jennifer Wheeler has served as Glacier Bank’s vice president since 2000. In 2009, Wheeler began working with developers specializing in the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing, including those using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. She has helped both the loan and equity side of these transactions across 17 Glacier Bank divisions in eight states. In Montana alone, Glacier Bank has financed over $500 million in construction lending that supported 69 affordable housing properties with 3,894 rental homes. Wheeler is respected for her understanding of complex deals and financing structures as well as for her thoughtful, collaborative approach to financing.
Exemplary Public Service: The Exemplary Public Service Award is also a new category. This honor recognizes the exemplary public service of an individual or team employed with a local, state or federal government entity and highlights how their service positively impacts Montana’s affordable housing community.
Winner: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Region 8 Public and Indian Housing Team
Headquartered in Denver, the HUD Region 8 Public and Indian Housing team has consistently demonstrated exceptional responsiveness and commitment to partnering with Montana’s public housing authorities. The team approaches questions with professionalism, clarity and a genuine desire to help. The team’s dedication to problem solving and willingness to work collaboratively have empowered Montana’s public housing authorities to strengthen their operations and deliver high-quality, affordable housing to the communities they serve.
The team supported Montana’s statewide fair market rent reevaluation by coordinating with the Montana HUD state office to assign a HUD-approved technical assistance provider. HUD Region 8 also supported a Montana Public Housing Authority with its first solicitation for project-based voucher proposals, including detailed reviews and guidance on HUD’s subsidy layering review requirements.
Additionally, the team worked closely with a small Montana PHA during a time of transition and helped with another PHA’s rental assistance demonstration repositioning efforts. HUD Region 8 PIH’s support sets the standard for effective federal partnership.
Lifetime Achievement Award: The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes leaders who have made significant and sustained contributions to advance affordable housing in Montana.
Winner: Ruth Burke, retired from the Missoula Human Resource Council
Ruth Burke joined the staff of District XI Human Resource Council in 1998 as its fiscal officer and ultimately served as its executive director from 2022 to 2025. Throughout more than 27 years at HRC, Burke was a member of the team that developed and owned affordable housing in Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli counties. Burke oversaw funds from tax credit investors and grant programs that resulted in the construction of new affordable homes. She also shepherded the rehabilitation of several rent-assisted properties in Ravalli County and led the team that secured funding to develop eight apartments in Hamilton for people at risk of homelessness.
Beyond housing preservation and development, Burke expanded housing services, like getting HRC approved as a Medicaid provider for housing stability services. She also championed the organization’s downpayment and homebuyer assistance programs.
Outstanding Participating Lender Award: The Montana Board of Housing partners with 41 active and approved participating lenders across the state. These participating lenders originate mortgage loans for MBOH-eligible borrowers; these loans are then funded by the Board through its issuance of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, providing the benefit of a below-market interest rate to qualified buyers. Thanks to the work of these participating lenders, the MBOH can achieve its mission. This award recognizes the significant contributions of a participating lender to help Montanans achieve the American dream.
Winners: Nicole Hanni and Cassidy Leary, Guild Mortgage — Butte
Guild Mortgage was approved as a participating lender in 2007. Nicole Hanni and Cassidy Leary, working from Guild’s Butte location, together originated 46 MBOH loans in just over a one-year period starting in January 2025. Their efforts represented over half of all Board loans originated in Butte over the same time period.
People’s Choice Award: Each year, conference attendees vote on a People’s Choice Award, selecting one organization from among their peers who is doing exemplary work. The awardee receives $3,000 to use toward making a short film to highlight their work.
Winner: Trust Montana
Trust Montana’s mission is to promote community land trusts and hold land in trust to facilitate workforce housing, farmland affordability and the preservation of vital community assets that keep rural and urban areas livable for Montanans of varied economic means.
The Montana Housing Partnership is a group of housing professionals in business and government from across the state who share information and experiences while creating opportunities for peer exchange and collaboration. Conference attendees include affordable housing organizations, housing developers, government agencies and other housing stakeholders.
“These awards are presented to organizations and individuals who have shown extraordinary commitment to increasing access to attainable, affordable housing for Montanans,” said Commerce Director Marta Bertoglio.
2026 Housing Champion Award Recipients:
Community Give Back: In addition to the awards, each year the Housing Partnership gives back to the conference’s host city or regions through the “Community Give Back” sponsorship. This year, the sponsorship awarded $2,500 to Anaconda Project Care, on behalf of the Anaconda Housing Authority.
The AHA is currently undertaking its most substantial rehabilitation project since its public housing properties were originally constructed in the 1940s and 1950s. This effort includes PJ Hagan Homes, Mount Haggin Homes and Cedar Park Homes. While AHA is unable to accept donations directly, it works closely with Anaconda Project Care, which helps people, including AHA residents, with food, medicine, gas vouchers, medical assistance and support in emergency situations.
Exceptional Affordable Housing Finance Partner: This is a new award category. In today’s world of reduced housing credit pricing, high market interest rates, increased construction costs and the overall uncertainty of federal funding sources, a reliable and engaged affordable housing finance partner is a must for the success of any project.
Winners: Jennifer Wheeler and Glacier Bank
Jennifer Wheeler has served as Glacier Bank’s vice president since 2000. In 2009, Wheeler began working with developers specializing in the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing, including those using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. She has helped both the loan and equity side of these transactions across 17 Glacier Bank divisions in eight states. In Montana alone, Glacier Bank has financed over $500 million in construction lending that supported 69 affordable housing properties with 3,894 rental homes. Wheeler is respected for her understanding of complex deals and financing structures as well as for her thoughtful, collaborative approach to financing.
Exemplary Public Service: The Exemplary Public Service Award is also a new category. This honor recognizes the exemplary public service of an individual or team employed with a local, state or federal government entity and highlights how their service positively impacts Montana’s affordable housing community.
Winner: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Region 8 Public and Indian Housing Team
Headquartered in Denver, the HUD Region 8 Public and Indian Housing team has consistently demonstrated exceptional responsiveness and commitment to partnering with Montana’s public housing authorities. The team approaches questions with professionalism, clarity and a genuine desire to help. The team’s dedication to problem solving and willingness to work collaboratively have empowered Montana’s public housing authorities to strengthen their operations and deliver high-quality, affordable housing to the communities they serve.
The team supported Montana’s statewide fair market rent reevaluation by coordinating with the Montana HUD state office to assign a HUD-approved technical assistance provider. HUD Region 8 also supported a Montana Public Housing Authority with its first solicitation for project-based voucher proposals, including detailed reviews and guidance on HUD’s subsidy layering review requirements.
Additionally, the team worked closely with a small Montana PHA during a time of transition and helped with another PHA’s rental assistance demonstration repositioning efforts. HUD Region 8 PIH’s support sets the standard for effective federal partnership.
Lifetime Achievement Award: The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes leaders who have made significant and sustained contributions to advance affordable housing in Montana.
Winner: Ruth Burke, retired from the Missoula Human Resource Council
Ruth Burke joined the staff of District XI Human Resource Council in 1998 as its fiscal officer and ultimately served as its executive director from 2022 to 2025. Throughout more than 27 years at HRC, Burke was a member of the team that developed and owned affordable housing in Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli counties. Burke oversaw funds from tax credit investors and grant programs that resulted in the construction of new affordable homes. She also shepherded the rehabilitation of several rent-assisted properties in Ravalli County and led the team that secured funding to develop eight apartments in Hamilton for people at risk of homelessness.
Beyond housing preservation and development, Burke expanded housing services, like getting HRC approved as a Medicaid provider for housing stability services. She also championed the organization’s downpayment and homebuyer assistance programs.
Outstanding Participating Lender Award: The Montana Board of Housing partners with 41 active and approved participating lenders across the state. These participating lenders originate mortgage loans for MBOH-eligible borrowers; these loans are then funded by the Board through its issuance of tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, providing the benefit of a below-market interest rate to qualified buyers. Thanks to the work of these participating lenders, the MBOH can achieve its mission. This award recognizes the significant contributions of a participating lender to help Montanans achieve the American dream.
Winners: Nicole Hanni and Cassidy Leary, Guild Mortgage — Butte
Guild Mortgage was approved as a participating lender in 2007. Nicole Hanni and Cassidy Leary, working from Guild’s Butte location, together originated 46 MBOH loans in just over a one-year period starting in January 2025. Their efforts represented over half of all Board loans originated in Butte over the same time period.
People’s Choice Award: Each year, conference attendees vote on a People’s Choice Award, selecting one organization from among their peers who is doing exemplary work. The awardee receives $3,000 to use toward making a short film to highlight their work.
Winner: Trust Montana
Trust Montana’s mission is to promote community land trusts and hold land in trust to facilitate workforce housing, farmland affordability and the preservation of vital community assets that keep rural and urban areas livable for Montanans of varied economic means.
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The Montana Housing Partnership is a group of housing professionals in business and government from across the state who share information and experiences while creating opportunities for peer exchange and collaboration. Conference attendees include affordable housing organizations, housing developers, government agencies and other housing stakeholders.
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