HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-10-25 Public Comment - O. Sohn - City Commission Public Comment (RtoC)From:Olive Nakano Sohn
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]City Commission Public Comment
Date:Thursday, April 10, 2025 10:36:52 AM
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City Commission,
I moved to Bozeman in 2018 after leaving the Military Service to further my education at
MSU. When I first moved here my rent was affordable under a typical wage. Since then, the
cost of housing has gone up significantly and I’ve seen little to no increase in my wages. As
a result, I’ve felt my budget get tighter and tighter. Between increases in rent and cost of
living, I can no longer contribute to my savings and my future.
I’ve lived in the Rocky Mountain West for most of my life, but Bozeman is the first place in
my adult life that feels like home. It’s a big enough community where I have everything that
I need, but it’s also rural enough to give easy access to public lands. Few other places in
the country allow access to world class fishing rivers, and the mountain retreats that we are
fortunate to enjoy. This should not be only accessible to the wealthy.
I’ve rented at Trout Meadows Apartments for several years now. I’ve seen my rent raised
$600 in that time, about a 50% increase. I recently learned that one of my neighbors was
evicted by Landlord Montana Crestview with no consideration for their circumstances. She
became unemployed, and the moment she couldn’t pay rent, they filed an eviction and
she’s now $12,000 in debt and living on the streets. At present an average job pays
between $20-$25 an hour. After taxes, someone working at that rate is paying over 50% of
their income in rent. This is unsustainable. I am fortunate that I have Veterans benefits to
assist with my cost of living. Unfortunately under the current administration, that is no
longer a guarantee. Even working full time, with student loan debt and other costs of living,
should I lose those benefits I would be unable to afford my housing.
There is a significant wealth imbalance between Landlords and Tenants in Bozeman.
Landlords are benefitting due to the rising cost of rent, while Tenants are living with
increasingly restricted budgets and fewer reserves to fall back on. When a tenant is evicted,
they are at tremendous disadvantage on virtually all fronts. Evicted tenants face an uphill
battle to gain employment, receive legal communications, keep their families together, or
even gain housing elsewhere.
Landlords, with their financial resources, can afford to hire counsel to represent them
legally whereas cash strapped tenants cannot. This sets the stage for a lopsided legal
battle in which the outcomes are all but guaranteed. Tenants deserve access to the
resources they need to level the playing field and ensure a fair fight. For tenants, there is
more at stake than a month's rent. We risk losing literally everything. The system needs to
change. One solution that you, City Commission, can act upon now is ensuring that tenants
facing eviction do not have to face it alone. Tenants in Bozeman need a Right to Counsel
now. Your support of such a policy represents a positive change in the quality of life for the
majority of Bozeman residents who live as renters, and presents a step towards equity in a
status quo that heavily favors Landlords.