Additional comment on attainable housing need Public Comment from Rachel Huff-Doria (2)Aimee Brunckhorst
From: Rachel Huff-Doria <rachelhuffdoria@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2024 11:56 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Additional comment on attainable housing need
On May 15th we sent the below letter to City Council. We are sending an update to this letter as we continue to
have more residents who want to sign on and share their thoughts.
Dear Kalispell City Council,
Flathead Valley is in the middle of a housing crisis. While this crisis is caused by many factors — studies show
that the lack of housing supply is a key contributing factor.
As residents, families, and employers we ask that the Kalispell City Council continue to recognize and take
action to address the enormous need for all housing types - including housing for middle incomes - by passing
the Tronstad Meadows / Whitetail Crossing single family homes project.
This new neighborhood would provide 380 homes in the Flathead Valley for individuals, with the goal of having
a majority of the homes attainable for middle income residents. This includes 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and 4-
bedroom options.
While we understand some individuals will always oppose new development, and some individuals will only
oppose development when it is in "their backyard," we urge the Council to consider the needs of the many
residents across the City and Flathead Valley who are in need of a home. And consider that their need is now.
Without new housing options, many of us, as well as our families, friends, and employees — will not be able to
stay in the community we love and purchase our own home. Some of us have already had to leave Kalispell,
while some of us have friends or children who have left as they cannot find housing options to fit their budget.
We are residents of Flathead Valley too.
We are nurses. We are firefighters. We are teachers, police officers, and essential workers. We are
construction workers, electricians, and plumbers. We work in all of these professions and more.
We are also employers. Our businesses and economy rely on us being able to retain employees — and we
can't do that without housing options for them.
We have families. We volunteer at the schools. We contribute to our community.
We deserve to stay in the Flathead Valley.
And we deserve to live in a home we can be proud of.
Thank you for continuing to address the housing crisis through annexation and zoning change requests for the
Tronstad Meadows / Whitetail Crossing neighborhood that would add attainable housing options to the
Flathead Valley for residents with middle incomes.
We understand that the addition of this one neighborhood won't solve the Flathead's housing crisis — but we
also know that it's an important piece of the solution. And it's one piece we can't afford to ignore.
Signed by residents including but not limited to -
Patricia Frost
Lindsey Gardner
Dade Wendt
Colton Little
Michell Wang
Olivia Stark
Sienna Brockman
Meagan Schmoll
Kimberly De Vries
Bess Matson
Kaitlin Mullowney
Chris Koach
Stephanie Bengtson
Nigel Pickhardt
Donna Cain
...and more.
PS: These are additional comments on why building housing for middle income families is important to us, as
community members. This is how the lack of housing options is impacting us, our families, our friends, and our
colleagues —
The working class is getting pushed out of the Flathead valley or really struggling due to high housing
costs.
I have family and friends who have worked and saved for years to try to get into quality affordable and
attainable housing. It isn't an available option for them to move because no options are available at an
fair rate. At this point these people I care about have lived in overcrowded housing with family or in
campers and RVs. Others don't have any place to call their home. They are doing the best they can,
while the communities around them have not seen nearly enough growth in availability.
It's important that we look out for all different incomes of this valley, and the basic human right of
shelter. Establishing roots is important to many who grew up here and have moved here. The barrier to
achieve that shouldn't be so high or unattainable. Not only catering to the incredibly wealthy just for a
profit. Majority of this valley is made up of middle class incomes and essential workers.
Everyone I know is low or middle income, lives paycheck to paycheck, and most have struggled with
attainable housing.
As a nurse in the valley I can not afford to buy a home and renting is as much as a mortgage.
I am a registered nurse. There is a nursing shortage here in the valley and with the growing population
our hospitals become busier and busier. Many new nursing grads and some of my colleagues can not
afford to stay in the valley because they can not afford housing, even though they can obtain work as a
registered nurse.
We need middle income workers to sustain the economy here and there is not enough affordable
housing.
I am a nurse, ie a middle income earner who provides a valuable service being priced out of the Valley.
More affordable housing is practical for not only middle and lower income earners but upper income
earners who partake of their valued services, contributing to a balanced community.
Workers can't afford to live here. Retirees can't afford to live here. Only the extremely wealthy can live
here comfortably. I pay $2600 a month for a 700 sq ft house. Who can afford that on minimum wage? 1
will have to move out of state next spring.