Attainable housing support Public Comment from Dave DedmanKalispell City Councilors.
As a Kalispell resident, parent, former fire chief and now a small business owner I am
writing to Council to request you continue considering and addressing the need for more
attainable housing.
My children have been raised in this valley and are now are adults trying to stay in this valley
to raise their children. Along with my children many families can no longer afford to live
and start their families in the Flathead Valley. Young families and young adults, in
particular, are unable to consider home ownership. This is a detriment of the entire
community. Young adults who work in essential, middle-income jobs, that serve our
community will continue to be pushed out of Kalispell and the Flathead Valley. And with
high housing prices, due to high demand and low supply, across the Flathead Valley, there
is nowhere else for them to go but leave.
This is a problem that must be solved together. As a community, we must use every tool we
have to address housing affordability for the working class. I believe that there are many
tools at our disposal to do this but we cannot ignore the simple fact that we need to
increase affordable housing supply.
If we fail to do this, the individuals who provide our essential services such as Fire, Police,
EMS, medical field employees, grocery store clerks, office workers and many other
individuals that take care of the community, will continue to struggle with building their
families here. Employers will continue to struggle to recruit and retain their workforce for
many years to come. As you consider further action, please take seriously the challenge
our community, and many young adults, are facing in finding a home that fits their budget
and needs. Without these young adults and essential services workforce we will no longer
be a healthy and productive community.
I urge you to continue to address this issue through the many tools you have and to
continue working towards a healthy community and attainable housing.
Sincerely,
Dave Dedman
Kalispell Fire Chief (retired)