Montana Department of Commerce

The Montana Department of Commerce (MDC) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is currently open for all covered areas. These waiting lists are only open until August 15, 2024.

The statewide Montana Department of Commerce Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting list is closing on August 15, 2024. Blaming the waiting list closure on a decision from HUD to decrease Montana's Section 8 funding from approximately $2 million per month to under $1.5 million, on July 2, 2024, Governor Greg Gianforte (R) wrote a terse letter to HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman, requesting the decision be reversed. In the letter, Gianforte says "Absent HUD's reconsideration, Montana will initiate closing the waitlist and halting all new leasing by July 31, 2024.These actions will have significant implications for vulnerable Montanans who have been waiting for a voucher."

Gianforte stated Montana should not be bailing out other states who mismanaged their Section 8 program. He said "The residents of our state should not be forced to bail out other states that have poorly managed their federal HAP funding. To be clear, low-income Montanans patiently waiting for critically needed rental assistance will be at increased risk of homelessness as a direct result of the Biden Administration's decision to bail out fiscally irresponsible states at the expense of properly managed states like Montana."

To be clear, Montana's shortfall is not caused by "poorly managed states". Section 8 HAP funding isn't at the state level at all. The funds are allocated directly to Public Housing Agencies, not through the states. Additionally, the shortfalls presently being experienced in the program nationally are a result of a lack of funding and increased rents, not mismanagement. Further, HUD did not withdraw Montana's funding. It reduced its monthly allocation and instructed it to fund the difference with the state's HUD-held reserve fund (not Montana money, federal money). The Federal fiscal year ends in September meaning that lower level of funding would likely only hold for a few months. As the state's reserve fund is adequate to cover the few months of shortfall, one can only interpret this move by the Governor as a partisan election year stunt.Politics aside, the waiting list will close on August 15, 2024, until further notice. In addition, the Governor's letter indicates they won't just close the waiting list but they will stop issuing new vouchers.

Please note: The Montana Department of Commerce administers 11 regional Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher waiting lists for all 56 counties in the State of Montana. Please view waiting list information for each region below.

• The Action for Eastern Montana waiting list covers the Counties of Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Valley, and Wibaux, MT.
• The Bozeman waiting list covers the Counties of Gallatin, Meagher, and Park, MT.
• The Butte waiting list covers the Counties of Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Granite, Madison, Powell, and Silver Bow, MTPlease note: The Housing Authority of Butte operates its own waiting list separate from the MDC.
• The District 7 HRDC waiting list covers the Counties of Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, and Yellowstone, MT.
• The Havre waiting list covers the Counties of Blaine, Hill and Liberty, MT. 
• The Helena waiting list covers the Counties of Broadwater, Jefferson, and Lewis & Clark, MT.Please note: The Helena Housing Authority operates its own waiting list separate from the MDC.
• The Housing Authority of Billings waiting list covers the City of Billings and cities within a 10-mile radius of Billings, MTPlease note: The Housing Authority of Billings operates its own waiting list separate from the MDC.
• The Kalispell waiting list covers the Counties of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, and Sanders, MT.
• The Lewistown waiting list covers the Counties of Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Muscleshell, Petroleum, and Wheatland, MT.
• The Missoula waiting list covers the Counties of Mineral, Missoula and Ravalli, MT.Please note: The Missoula Housing Authority operates its own waiting list separate from the MDC.
• The Opp Inc waiting list covers the Counties of Cascade, Chouteau, Glacier, Pondera, Teton, and Toole, MT.

To apply, complete the online application. Please note: You can only apply to one region.Important note: Applicants who have been placed on the waiting list must inform the housing authority immediately if your application information changes (such as contact information, income, and household members). In the case that the office sends a notice that does not get returned, or if application information is out of date, your name may be terminated from the waiting list. Contact the housing authority to find out how to update application information.Applicants placed on the waiting list will be notified by mail within two months of the application submission.For more information, visit the MDC website, or call the office at (406) 841-2830.