Community
Park County and HRDC have announced the launch of the Park County Home Repair Program, a new initiative providing financial assistance to low- and moderate-income homeowners for critical home repairs that improve health, safety, ADA accessibility, and energy efficiency.
Funded by the Montana Department of Commerce through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Housing Stabilization Program, assistance is offered at 0% interest on fully forgivable loans of $40,000 or more with a 15-year term. For every year property owners occupy the home, 6.6% of the loan is forgiven; the loan is fully forgiven if the homeowner continuously occupies the home for the entire 15-year term.
“Preservation of our existing housing stock is a pillar of the community’s housing strategy; data from our 2021 Housing Needs Assessment and the American Community Survey point to the pressing need for it,” said Katherine Daly, HRDC’s Park County Housing Coalition Program Manager. “More than half (55%) of Park County homes were built before 1980 and 22% were built in 1939 or earlier, so nearly a quarter of our housing stock is at least 86 years old. Furthermore, more than a quarter (27.6%) of Park County homeowners earn less than $50,000 annually and would qualify for the Home Repair Program.”
This program advances the 2022 Park County Housing Action Plan, adopted as an addendum to Park County’s Growth Policy, which recommends leveraging rehabilitation financing to preserve and extend the life of existing homes.
How to Apply
Homeowners are encouraged to complete a short 20-question pre-application now through December 14, 2025:
- Online: parkcountyhousing.com/hrp
- Paper copies are available at these Park County locations: Clyde Park: Glenn’s Shopping Center, 504 Miles St.; Emigrant: Emigrant General Store, 3 Murphy Ln.; Gardiner: Gardiner Community Library NP Depot; Livingston: HRDC, 121 S. 2nd St.; Wilsall: Hamm Supply, 102 E Clark St.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Own and occupy a single-family, site-built home in Park County as their primary residence.
- Have a household income at or below 80% of Park County’s Area Median Income (AMI), as set by HUD. Selected homeowners will sign a 15-year deed restriction as required by HUD and the Montana Department of Commerce to help ensure long-term affordability.
Program at a Glance
- Purpose: Repair/rehab homes to improve health & safety, ADA accessibility, and energy efficiency
- Financing: 0% interest, fully forgivable loans, $40,000+, 15-year term
- Forgiveness: 6.6% per year of continued owner-occupancy; 100% forgiven at year 15
- Deadline: Pre-application due by December 14, 2025
- Apply: parkcountyhousing.com/hrp or pick up a paper application at listed locations
Applicant Inquiries
Katherine Daly, Program Manager, Park County Housing Coalition, HRDC kdaly@thehrdc.org | (406) 723-1941
HRDC is a private, nonprofit focused on building a better community by combatting poverty and offsetting the high cost of living for our hardworking neighbors across Southwest Montana. Donors, volunteers, customers, and community members can learn more at thehrdc.org.