HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-17-23 Public Comment - N. Turner - Housing Affordability Nathan Turner
% Mrs. Warn
Gallatin High School
4455 Annie St.
Bozeman, MT 59718
Apr 3, 2023
Bozeman City Commission
121 N. Rouse Ave
Bozeman, MT 59718
Dear Bozeman City Commission,
My name is Nathan Turner. I have lived in Montana my entire life and have seen the
speed at which the city of Bozeman has been growing. I am writing to express my concern
about the ongoing housing problem in Bozeman, Montana, and the construction labor shortage.
The demand for housing in Bozeman has been on the rise, causing home prices and rents to
skyrocket, making it difficult for families to find affordable housing. The construction industry is
also in a very big labor shortage making it difficult to keep up with the demand for housing.
According to The Bozeman Real Estate Group, "Between years 2010-2018, Bozeman's
population grew 4 times faster than the population of the entire state of Montana, increasing by
an estimated 30%." However, the supply of housing has not kept pace with the growing
demand, leading to a shortage of affordable housing units. In addition, the construction labor
shortage is making it harder to build new housing units, making the housing problem worse, In
order to bring in more workers we need more housing units.
To address this issue, I would like to suggest that the Bozeman City Commission takes a
wide approach that includes increasing the supply of affordable housing units for construction
companies. I understand that the commission is already putting work into this problem. I am
here to express my concern and possibly suggest some ways to help. Cheaper housing for
construction workers will result in an urge to become a construction worker, making the process
of building new housing quicker. This can be done by providing incentives to developers who
build affordable housing units, such as tax breaks or subsidies. Obviously, this plan will not
happen right away, but over time, housing affordability will fall back down making Bozeman a
more affordable city to live in.
Sincerely, Nathan Turner