What HUD offices serve Helena, Montana?
Public Housing Agencies operate federally assisted affordable housing programs at local levels on behalf of HUD. Notably, housing agencies are responsible for managing Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing, and Project-Based Voucher waiting lists within their jurisdiction.
Go to the Montana Public Housing and Low-Income Apartments Waiting Lists page for openings near Helena.
How many renters live in Helena, Montana?
The City of Helena has people living in households.
There are renters living in renter households in this City. Renters make up 38.46 percent of the population living in Helena.
What is the rental market like in Helena, Montana?
There are an estimated housing units in the Helena area. Of these, units are rental homes, making up percent of the housing market. For every renter household in Helena, Montana, there are 1.05 rental units.
What is the vacancy rate for rentals in Helena?
The rental vacancy rate in Helena is 5 percent. This is a lower than average vacancy rate. When rental vacancy rates are low there are fewer available units. Rents tend to be higher as more people compete for scarce housing.
How many rental units are in Helena for each bedroom size?
Occupied Rental Units by Size in Helena
| Studio | One-Bedroom | Two-Bedroom | Three-Bedroom | Four+ Bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 684 | 1,737 | 2,954 | 1,058 | 298 |
Occupied Rental Units by Size in Helena
A large number of apartments in Helena have two or fewer bedrooms. Seniors and young professionals especially may have more success finding an apartment that meets their needs.
How Much Is Rent in Helena
Depending on size, the Fair Market Rent - HUDs measurement of the cost of an average housing unit - ranges from $729 to $1,575. FMRs are updated annually by HUD for every city and county nationwide.
| Bed Size | 2024 Fair Market Rents |
| Studio | $729 |
| One BR | $837 |
| Two BR | $1,057 |
| Three BR | $1,370 |
| Four BR | $1,575 |
2024 Fair Market Rents in Helena, Montana
How many units are rented at Fair Market Rent (FMR) in Helena?
Renters with a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher must select a home that is at or below the area’s Fair Market Rent. Markets with a large share of units above FMR tend to have longer search times to find a qualified unit, while those with a large share of units below FMR tend to have more choices and shorter search times. The share below FMR can vary by size of unit, as shown in the table below.
These are the approximate number of units renting below the FMR in this market:
| Unit Size | Count of Units Below FMR | Percentage of Total Units Below FMR |
| Studio | 499 | 73 percent |
| One BR | 851 | 49 percent |
| Two BR | 1,568 | 53 percent |
Rental Units Below FMR in Helena, Montana
How many affordable rental units are in Helena?
There are a variety of federal affordable housing programs serving households in Helena, Montana including the following:
| Federal Program | Unit Count |
| Low Income Housing Tax Credit | |
| Public Housing | |
| Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance | |
| Mod Rehab Project-Based Rental Assistance | |
| Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly | |
| Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities |
Tracked Units by Federal Program in Helena, Montana
Rental units may be funded in part by multiple federal programs.
Income Based Apartments in Helena, Montana
Helena features 762 income based apartments. Tenants of income based apartments typically pay no more than 30% of their income towards rent and utilities.
Low Rent Apartments in Helena, Montana
There are 403 rent subsidized apartments that do not provide direct rental assistance but remain affordable to low income households in Helena.
Housing Choice Vouchers in Helena, Montana
On average, Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers pay Helena landlords $500 per month towards rent. The average voucher holder contributes $300 towards rent in Helena.
The maximum amount a voucher would pay on behalf of a low-income tenant in Helena, Montana for a two-bedroom apartment is between $951 and $1,163.
Sourced from federal housing data and AffordableHousingOnline.com research.
