Missoula County Adopts Workforce Housing Policy

New policy allows TIF funds to be used for affordable housing infrastructure

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:18pm

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a collection of polished, geometric shapes and raw materials arranged in a dramatic, high-contrast composition, conceptually representing the complex factors shaping housing affordability in Missoula.Missoula's new workforce housing policy aims to leverage public financing tools to spur the development of more attainable homes for the local community.Missoula Today

Missoula County has approved a new workforce housing policy that will allow tax-increment-financing (TIF) mechanisms to be used to help develop infrastructure for new affordable housing developments. The policy aims to increase the supply of more attainable homes in the area, which has faced a longstanding housing affordability crisis.

Why it matters

Missoula has struggled with a severe housing shortage and affordability crisis for decades, with many residents, including teachers and local workers, being priced out of the market. This new policy is an attempt by local officials to spur the construction of more workforce-oriented housing that is accessible to middle-income families.

The details

Under the new Missoula County workforce housing policy, TIF funds cannot be used for luxury homes. Instead, the policy sets guardrails on the size, density, and finishes of homes built with this funding in order to keep them on the lower end of the market value spectrum. The policy is part of the county's broader 50-year development plan for the Wye area.

  • The Missoula County Commissioners approved the workforce housing policy on Thursday, April 4, 2026.
  • The county has been working on a 50-year development plan for the Wye area, which this new housing policy is aligned with.

The players

Missoula County Commissioners

The elected officials who approved the new workforce housing policy for Missoula County.

Nancy King

A Missoula resident who had to leave the city in her 20s due to the high cost of living and inability to afford housing.

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What they’re saying

“I would hope that the housing becomes more affordable, that whoever sees this thinks about the young people getting out of college. That they'll be able to afford a place to live without having to leave and move out of state like I did. I would have never left if I could have made a living here.”

— Nancy King, Missoula Resident

“Having them set up these guardrails on size and density and finishes make a lot more sense. I think it's a really good way to go, and I think it will work over time, as well, even as our economy changes.”

— Josh Slotnick, Missoula County Commissioner

What’s next

The new workforce housing policy is part of Missoula County's broader 50-year development plan for the Wye area, indicating that further steps and initiatives around affordable housing are likely to come in the future.

The takeaway

Missoula's longstanding housing affordability crisis has forced many residents, including teachers and local workers, to leave the city. This new policy is an attempt by local officials to spur the construction of more attainable workforce housing, showing a commitment to addressing the community's housing needs.