Affordable Senior Rural Housing

This resource provides articles on the challenges faced by seniors in rural communities when trying to find affordable housing. With a fast increasing senior population and few housing options as it is, the need for senior-specific housing is immense. These articles review some of the federal programs that exist for creating affordable senior housing, the funding that is involved, and the resources that are available for rural communities to establish such housing. 

Affordable Rural Senior Housing

Addressing Equity and Rural Poverty: The View from the Ground

Rural and small-town communities face many challenges when attempting to fight poverty while encouraging economic capacity. This webinar provides some best practices for fostering equity in regional and community economic development. Watch the recording to see how communities can work and plan together for equality while boosting local and regional economoy. 

Addressing Equity and Rural Poverity Rural Equity Webinar

Hill County Input

Economic Development (private business)

  • Education opportunities (MSUN, Havre Job Svc)
  • Nurture farmers, markets, co-ops, etc.
  • Develop low-cost health care options
  • Open port, improve roads, create housing.
  • Utilize old IGA building.

Advancing Community Priorities

Guest speakers, David Jaber from the Oyate Omniciye regional sustainability planning effort of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (Pine Ridge Reservation) and Carrie Runser-Turner from the GroWNC regional planning project in Western North Carolina,  provide examples of how their tribal and rural communities were able to advance their priorities through local, regional planning efforts. In addition, Jennie Rodgers, communications specialist with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation, discusses how our local communities can ensure that their priorities are incorporated into the regional plan for Northcentral MT. Watch the full webinar for all of the details!

Advancing Community Priorities_PP

Action Items Summary

This document summarizes the action items and common themes that were identified by community leaders at the June 24th, 2014, Vibrant Futures Implementation Session. Participants developed action items, which included sequences of steps, resources, potential partners, possible funding sources, and timelines for accomplishing the action item. Participants also came to several conclusions on the common elements necessary to successfully implement the plan. 

Action Item Summary Implementation Session

Phillips County Input

Employment

  • More small business
  • Less regulation
  • Allow the TransCanada project
  • Employee training
  • Move in companies to create more jobs
  • Improve government policy in regards to agriculture, mining
  • Reclamation is ongoing at the mine
  • Open some state lands to recreational access and housing development
  • Develop access road

Judith Basin County Input

Economic Development (private business)

  • Keep taxes low enough to promote new businesses
  • Ensure dependable cell phone service (tower)
  • Expand hours of grocery store
  • Get credit card gas station (rather than key)
  • Reopen Black Bull (access building and liquor license)
  • Recruit bookkeeper/accountant
  • Find lenders who can help make borrowing easier
  • Develop tourism
  • Improve internet connectivity
  • Identify regulations that are holding business back
  • Establish new restaurant

Blaine County Input

Economic Development (private business)

  • Lower water and sewer rates
  • Develop more retail, perhaps a cooperative store
  • Expand child care
  • Remodel City Courthouse, City Hall, Police Dept
  • Upgrade water treatment/sewer systems
  • Seek access to affordable business loans
  • Promote community attractions, events, businesses, and services
  • Improve rest area, fair grounds, walking path
  • Thinking/being more entrepreneurial
  • Education/training for more skilled workforce
  • Fiber optics with Triangle Communications
  • UPS drop stop
  • Revitalize Main Street
  • Attract younger people with new ideas
  • Business opportunity that would bring families to the community