Governor Gianforte Celebrates Impact of Housing Investments in Butte

Governor’s HOMES Program led to 1,000 new housing units across Montana

• April 16 2025

BUTTE, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today touted the results of a pro-housing reform passed last legislative session that’s led to the development of workforce housing across Montana.

“The housing shortage is one of the biggest issues facing Montanans as supply has not kept up with demand,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through the HOMES Program, we’re giving home builders the resources they need to increase our supply of housing so that hardworking Montanans can live in the communities where they work.”

Gov. Gianforte (middle) speaking during a press conference in Butte with Dan Villa of the Montana Boad of investments (left) and Barbara Miller of Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Montana (right)

Holding a press conference with Barbara Miller of Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Montana and Dan Villa of the Montana Board of Investments, the governor stood in front of a workforce housing project on Iron Street to highlight the impact of the HOMES Program, or Home Ownership Means Economic Security Program.

As rcommended by the governor’s Housing Task Force and as adopted in his Budget for Montana Families in 2023, the HOMES Program created a revolving loan fund to expand water and sewer infrastructure.

As passed by the legislature last session, House Bill 819 invested over $175 million to increase the supply of affordable workforce housing, including a $106 million investment in the governor’s HOMES Program. Included in his current budget proposal, the Path to Security and Prosperity, the governor proposed investing an additional $100 million in one-time-only funding to boost the program and build more homes for Montanans.

According to the Montana Board of Investments, the housing project, which includes seven nearly completed units, are a few of nearly 1,000 new homes being built across the state made possible by the HOMES Program.

“Last session, when the governor introduced the HOMES Program, we were invited to participate. And as part of that, $106 million was turned into 1,000 new units of homes here in Butte, Helena, Billings, Hamilton, Libby, Kalispell, Havre, Great Falls, and Missoula,” said Dan Villa, Executive Director of the Montana Board of Investments. “Governor Gianforte proposed the first general fund investment in housing development across the state, turned it into 1,000 new homes in two years, and now we are hoping to replicate that again.” 

The Butte project is a partnership with Habitat for Humanity and the National Affordable Housing Network, with support from local building suppliers, contractors, and volunteers.

“In my 30 years of working on these projects, I have to say – they take a great deal of courage, faith, and gratitude because they are so hard to do. Anything that makes it easier is a lifesaver, so these types of programs are critical to our ability to do this,” said Barbara Miller of Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Montana. “We’ve had more than 130 families in Butte help build their own homes and have an affordable house that they can raise their family in.”

Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Montana announced the construction of five new homes will begin this month with five more to follow next year. Barbara Miller said the seven homes nearing completion will be filled by families and Montanans already working in the community.

Underscoring the importance of the legislature’s continued investment in the HOMES Program, Miller added, “I am grateful the legislature continues to make housing a top priority, we could use the investment right here today.”

In its current form, House Bill 505, sponsored by Rep. Mike Vinton, R-Billings, includes the governor’s $100 million investment in the HOMES Program. The bill passed with broad bipartisan support in the House last week and was heard this week in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee.

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