New Billings Housing Cooperative Offers Unique Option for Seniors

The Village Cooperative will be the first of its kind in Montana, allowing residents to buy and sell their own apartments.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 11:38pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a stylized senior citizen walking with a cane, repeated in a tight grid pattern, conveying the vibrant and modern approach of a new cooperative housing community for older adults.A new senior housing cooperative in Billings, Montana aims to reinvent the concept of retirement living through an innovative ownership model.Billings Today

A new 58-unit housing cooperative called The Village Cooperative is under construction in Billings, Montana, offering a unique option for residents 62 and older. The cooperative model allows seniors to buy their own apartments and sell them when they decide to move, while the property is maintained by staff. This is the first cooperative of its kind in the state, filling a gap in the local housing market.

Why it matters

The Village Cooperative aims to provide an active lifestyle for seniors without the burden of home maintenance, while also offering a more affordable and flexible housing option compared to traditional home ownership. This cooperative model is a new concept for Montana, which could set a precedent for similar senior-focused communities in the state.

The details

The Village Cooperative will be located on Zimmerman Trail and Colton Boulevard in Billings' West End. It will feature 58 apartment-style homes, with residents able to buy and sell their individual units. Construction is already underway, and the project is scheduled for completion and move-in by 2027. According to sales manager Rhonda Olson, the homes will cost about half the average price of a Billings home, making it a more financially accessible option for seniors.

  • Construction on The Village Cooperative began in 2026.
  • The project is scheduled for completion and move-in by 2027.

The players

The Village Cooperative

A new 58-unit housing cooperative under construction in Billings, Montana, offering a unique ownership model for residents 62 and older.

Rhonda Olson

The sales manager for The Village Cooperative, who says the cooperative model fills a gap in the local housing market for seniors.

Trudy Carey

A Billings resident who has already reserved a spot in The Village Cooperative, excited about the new arrangement despite the emotional challenge of leaving her family home of 51 years.

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What they’re saying

“It does fit a gap that no one else is offering. We don't have anything like this in Montana right now, so it's a great opportunity.”

— Rhonda Olson, Sales Manager, The Village Cooperative

“I just think it's a great option. For me, it's a wonderful option. So I'm just trying to go into it with a really optimistic attitude.”

— Trudy Carey

“I love the fact that I have bought this, so when I die the children will still have that in the estate to sell.”

— Trudy Carey

What’s next

The Village Cooperative still has 18 homes available for purchase, and interested seniors are encouraged to reach out to the business as there is often a waitlist for similar cooperative housing projects.

The takeaway

The Village Cooperative in Billings represents a new and innovative housing model for Montana's senior population, providing an active lifestyle, maintenance-free living, and more affordable home ownership opportunities compared to traditional options. This cooperative approach could inspire similar senior-focused communities to emerge across the state.