In Belgrade, Montana, the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) has looked to modular housing as a solution to what the organization calls “immense affordable housing needs.”

According to Belgrade News, the HRDC will add 20 small modular homes to land that they already own.

“The soon-to-be housing development will be on the plot of land just west of Family Dollar in Belgrade,” said HRDC Special Projects Officer Tracy Menuez.

“The HRDC has owned the land for years and decided to move forward on development plans with the city of Belgrade last summer after finding suitable homes to put on it.”

Menuez says the organization purchased 75 two-bedroom, two-bathroom modular homes from a real estate company in Sidney, and some of the homes have been sold to partner organizations, while others will be placed later when more land becomes available throughout the communities the HRDC serves.

Menuez also provided additional details on the importance of keeping prices in reach for those who need the housing most.

“One of the challenges we’ve found with these modulars is finding affordable land to put them on,” said Menuez.

“Without affordable land, even the cheapest homes can become unaffordable. By utilizing land the HRDC already owns, we can be sure the homes will remain within the financial reach of lower income families. We want to make sure these are affordable to households who are underserved by our current market.”

The plot of land that will be used for the homes will also include some office space and a new Head Start building with four new classrooms. Menuez said that those are critical, as Belgrade has been a high growth area for the Head Start program.

Groundbreaking is expected to take place later this spring and the homes, along with the Head Start program, should be up and running over the summer after the city sorts out issues with infrastructure for water delivery to the area.

“In development time, the delay’s really not that much,” said Belgrade City Planner Jason Karp.

“It’s frustrating, but the homes will happen.”

Menuez said that there will be an application process of some kind through the HRDC to live in the modular homes, but it is not available yet.

The Daily Business News covered the HRDC last year, in what ended up being a rumor that manufactured housing the organization had was for Syrian refugees. That story is linked here. ##

 

(Image credits are as shown above.)

 

Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News, MHProNews.