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8/4/2025
Health assessment identifies affordable housing as a continuing issue for the city
Affordable housing remains one of Helena’s top health priorities as local organizers identify challenges, continue to work on housing initiatives and urge residents to become more involved in finding solutions.
Last week, Lewis and Clark Public Health, St. Peter’s Health and other area coalitions presented a community health improvement plan based on the previous year’s community assessment.
The assessment helped identify three health priorities in Lewis and Clark County and surrounding communities: behavioral health, chronic diseases and affordable housing.
One shared challenge among the priorities discussed during Wednesday’s presentation was the changes in federal funding, which, according to health plan officials, have impacted how local organizations address the lack of safe and affordable housing and limited shelters in and around the county.
United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area is among several local agency partners within the Healthy Together Steering Committee that assisted in creating the health plan. United Way community impact coordinator Jeff Buscher, who spoke during the event, said the organization is looking toward the community for support.
“ I want to try to stay somewhat apolitical in this regard, but this challenge of addressing our sheltering situation in our community, I think we have to do it locally, and we have to look at the resources we have to make this happen,” Buscher said.
Buscher added that funding changes could impact United Way’s Housing First campaign, an initiative that links housing security to other health needs.
“ The evidence is clear that safe housing paired with services leads to stably housed people,” Buscher said. “… So this is an evidence-based, tried-and-proven model to house people first and then address their mental health needs, addictions and things like that.”
Other housing challenges officials spoke about included pending changes to Medicaid, which most people seeking health and housing assistance rely on, and the “rollercoaster” of case management funding, according to United Way Executive Director Emily McVey. McVey said she has watched case management funding fluctuate for several years and stressed the need for additional social workers to help clients access community resources.
“ We often get calls at United Way where people say, ‘Where do I even start with housing? Where do I start with medical care? Where do I start with domestic violence needs?’ and if they don’t have a place to start [or] a person to help them, it’s very hard to work through the system…”
While housing barriers were discussed, officials listed some successes they have seen in the community.
Those achievements include the recent groundbreaking for Family Promises’ shelter expansion, the construction of the low-income-based Twin Creek Apartments, the dedication of six new homes that the Helena Area Habitat for Humanity facilitated and the Helena Housing Authority’s call to reassess the city’s fair-market-rent rates.
Moving forward, the community health improvement plan listed strategies to help engage the public and encourage partnerships with local housing advocacy groups and state, county and city governments.
Some strategies involve the city of Helena implementing the Montana Land Use and Planning Act, which requires cities to create a growth plan that addresses future housing, public services and other developmental needs, along with homeowner training. United Way plans to lead a new Housing Needs Assessment Survey for 2026, develop a community awareness campaign and host town halls.
Members of the public can visit the Lewis and Clark Public Health website to access the full improvement plan and health assessment.
Public Notice
North Star water issue update: On Tuesday, Aug. 5, at 1:30 p.m., the Montana Public Service Commission will discuss potential penalties on the developer of the North Star housing subdivision in the Helena valley. North Star tenants have complained about disruptions in the water supply since 2020.
School bond kick-off campaign: Local advocacy group Yes! For Helena Schools will hold a press conference on Monday, Aug. 4, to kick off its campaign to support the passage of two bonds to fund improvements to Capital High and the replacement of Helena High and Kessler Elementary. The event will be held outside of Helena High, 1300 Billings Ave., at 10 a.m. The bond will be on the Sept. 9 ballot.
Helena Regional Airport meeting: The Helena Regional Airport Authority will hold a public meeting on Monday, Aug. 4, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., to present its airport master plan on the airport’s growth and operational sustainability. The public will have the opportunity to discuss development options for the airport’s 1,400-acre campus. The meeting will be held at the airport’s convention center, 2850 Mercer Loop, located on the second floor of the terminal building.
Meet your candidates: The League of Women Voters of the Helena Area and the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce are inviting the public to meet the candidates for the Helena mayor and city commission races on Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Best Western Great Northern Hotel, 835 Great Northern Blvd., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Attendees should register on the LWV website. Visit the league’s website for more information about the event.
5 Things to Know in Helena
City 2025 tax assessment overview: In a city meeting last week, finance director Sheila Danielson presented the city’s 2025 tax year assessments, which detail upcoming rate changes that residents can expect to see in the next fiscal year. The city transportation services are the only department with a rate increase for street improvements. Residential and vacant property owners can expect to pay a base fee of $216, which is about a $10 increase from last year. Mobile home residents will pay about $87, which is an $8 increase, and commercial property owners will see a $18 increase to a base rate of $378.
Commercial property assessment change: In addition to the assessment presentation, city staff also discussed a recent shift in how commercial properties are assessed for street maintenance as an outcome of a city lawsuit settlement. Property owners with 40% or more of their undeveloped commercial land can ask the city to be reassessed as vacant and would be charged at two different rates: the commercial rate per square foot of the developed area and at a flat vacant rate for the undeveloped area. The city considers developed areas to be any portion of a commercial lot that has had buildings, structures, pavement, parking or storage areas built on it. Property owners have until Aug. 15 to apply for a reevaluation to be considered for an assessment change in the next tax year.
Thomas Weiner update: A U.S. District Court judge in July denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the government against Thomas C. Weiner, a former St. Peter’s Health doctor who was fired in 2020 after hospital officials alleged Weiner misdiagnosed and mistreated cancer patients. According to court documents, the court found sufficient evidence to support allegations that Weiner violated the False Claims and Controlled Substances Acts when he submitted information to federal health programs while treating patients. The United States Attorney’s Office filed the lawsuit against Weiner last August. Weiner responded in November with a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that the lawsuit lacked “specific, plain and plausible” facts.
Helena to see fire reduction efforts: The city of Helena will begin a two-month fire fuel reduction project starting Monday, Aug. 4, in the city’s natural parks, according to staff. Fire crews will start on an area in the western part of Mount Helena City Park and the north area of Mount Ascension Natural Park by thinning out trees. The fuel reduction crew will start at the Tubb Trailhead. To ensure public safety, the city has temporarily closed portions of the Road-To-Mars, Diretissima, Ambrose and Prairies trails. Residents can visit the city’s open lands website for additional information and a map of impacted areas.
MHS receives field trip grant: The Montana Historical Society announced that the museum was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana to launch a free field trip program. The program aims to help bring Montana students to the Capitol and the newly renovated Montana Heritage Center. The program is set to launch next year while MHS officials work to find additional funding to establish an endowment to sustain the program.
Might Be Fun
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will be in Helena at Anchor Park, 210 S. Last Chance Gulch, on Tuesday, Aug. 5, for a performance of “As You Like It” and on Aug. 6 for “Henry V.” The shows start at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Visit the Shakespeare in the Parks’ website for additional information about the show and for alternative weather-dependent venues.
