City Proposes Three Initiatives to Support Attainable Housing

Published on October 02, 2026

HELENA, Mont. — The City of Helena is proposing three new initiatives aimed at expanding attainable housing choices, reducing barriers to development and creating public-private partnerships to support affordable housing in the community.

The proposals include a Ready-to-Issue Residential Model Plan Library, a Helena Specialty License Plate and a Community Affordable Housing Showcase.

“Addressing Helena’s housing needs will take a range of solutions and strong community involvement. We need everyone at the table,” said City Manager Alana Lake. “These proposals create opportunities to make housing development more accessible, generate new resources and bring innovative housing ideas directly into the community.”

Pre-Reviewed Building Plans

The proposed Ready-to-Issue Residential Model Plan Library would provide residents, property owners and builders with online access to residential plans that have been pre-reviewed by the City. The first phase would focus on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and smaller homes, helping reduce design costs and simplify the permitting process. The Community Development Department anticipates releasing a request for informal proposals for the plan library program in the coming weeks.

A future phase could expand the library to include additional “missing middle” housing types, such as duplexes, cottage courts, townhouses and small multiplexes.

Specialty License Plate

The proposed “Guardian of the Gulch” Specialty License Plate would give residents an opportunity to voluntarily support affordable housing. Sponsor donation proceeds from the sale of the plates would be dedicated to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Plate designs will be solicited and reviewed through the City of Helena Public Art Committee this fall, with final approval from the City Commission. The City hopes to have the plates available to the public through the Lewis & Clark County Motor Vehicle Department starting July 1, 2027.

Community Affordable Housing Showcase

The proposed Community Affordable Housing Showcase would demonstrate innovative approaches to more cost-effective homebuilding through the construction of two or more exhibition homes and ADUs.

The one-year public showcase would allow public officials, developers, residents, community groups, and nonprofits to tour the homes, attend events, explore different approaches to residential construction, and generate new ideas for improving housing affordability. At the conclusion of the showcase, the homes would transition through nonprofit partners to local families in need.

“This showcase is an opportunity to bring attainable housing solutions, innovative construction methods, and manufacturing right here to Helena,” said City Manager Alana Lake. “It gives people something they can see, experience, discuss, and learn from while helping move the conversation about housing affordability forward.”

The City welcomes builders, developers, architects, contractors, trades, lenders, suppliers, real estate firms, insurers, and other organizations to bring forward ideas, expertise, and resources to help make the showcase a success. Helena-based Steed Industries and Cotton Construction have each brought forward innovative concepts for consideration, with multiple lenders, nonprofits, small businesses, and contractors also stepping forward to support the community effort. The City encourages others to join the conversation and help shape what comes next.

Addressing Helena’s Housing Needs

Helena’s population grew 18.9% between 2010 and 2023. The Helena area is currently estimated to have a housing shortage of approximately 1,400 homes and is projected to need approximately 5,000 additional homes by 2045.

Housing affordability and availability have consistently been identified as top community concerns through the Helena Forward Land Use Plan and the City Commission’s Strategic Plan.

“Under 406 JOBS, increasing the supply of attainable housing is a top priority to support Montana’s growing workforce,” said Sarah Swanson, Commissioner of Labor & Industry. “Montana workers need homes they can afford and builders need clear, predictable standards that allow them to use modern techniques to build more efficiently. These innovative city-level initiatives are a great example of practical solutions that make it easier for builders to build and easier for working families to call Helena home.”

The three proposed initiatives build on the City’s broader efforts to expand housing choices, encourage smaller housing types and ADUs, reduce barriers to development and explore new ways to increase the local housing supply.

"There isn't one solution to Helena's housing challenges,” said City Community Development Director Chris Brink. “We need to be creative about both reducing the cost of building homes and finding new resources to support that effort. These projects are all different, but they share the same goal, to find practical, locally-driven ways to make housing more attainable in Helena.”

Additional information about each initiative, including opportunities for community participation and partnership, will be provided as the proposals move forward.

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