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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeadwaters Community Trust _ Bozeman Poll Results Sept 2025Betsy App, PhD Fa ll 2025 Headwaters Community Housing Trust Bozeman, MT Survey Results METHODOLOGY This survey was designed to understand voters’ perceptions of housing in Bozeman, including support for the WARD Initiative 424 registered voters in Bozeman, MT, surveyed September 4-8, 2025 Respondents were recruited via dynamic online sampling and SMS to obtain a sample reflective of the registered voter population. Post-stratification performed on age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, region, and 2024 presidential vote. The modeled margin of error is 5.6% SAMPLE OVERVIEW 47% Women 51% Men 2% Trans/Nonbinary 29% 18 -34 33% 35-49 18% 50 -64 20% 65+ 50% Harris 38% Trump 4% 3rd Party 8% Didn’t vote 88% White 7% Hispanic 5% Other 15% < $50k 22% $50k-$75k 12% $ 75k -$95k 11% $ 95k -$ 115k 31% $ 115k+ 8% Prefer not to say 50% 59715 50% 59718 KEY FINDINGS 01 03 04 02Bozemanites believe there are not enough housing options to meet all residents’ needs. Because of this, half (51%) say it’s difficult to imagine a long -term future here. Voters support policies that make it easier to build more new affordable homes. Two-thirds support at least one of four new funding sources. More voters oppose than support the WARD Initiative. Just 28% say they would vote yes if the election were held today, while 35% would vote no. The plurality is undecided. Voters are largely aligned with the current direction of the City Commission on the UDC update. Lower -income Bozemanites are more supportive of allowing more abundant housing options than those with high incomes. Voters say there are not enough housing options in Bozeman to meet all residents’ needs Generally speaking, do you think Bozeman has enough housing options to meet the needs of Bozemanites across family sizes and income levels, or not enough? Majorities across all income levels believe there is a major shortage of affordable and available housing options. Voters are seeing and feeling the im pa ct of Bozeman’s lack of affordable housing options Has a shortage of affordable and available housing impacted you in recent years? A shortage of housing options can translate to bidding wars when trying to buy a home, or waiting lists when applying for a rental. “Has the availability of housing you can afford made it difficult for you to envision a long -term future in Bozeman?” Half (51%) say yes, including 68% of Bozemanites under age 35. 78% More than two-thirds support at least one of four prospective sources of funding for new affordable housingWhich of the following would you support? Select all that apply. More voters oppose than support the WARD initiative, with a plura lity undecided There is a citizen led initiative on the November ballot connecting water rights to housing affordability. The initiative reads as follows: The Bozeman Water Adequacy Initiative amends 38.410.130.D of the Bozeman Municipal Code to allow development to pay cash -in -lieu of water rights only if the development provides 33% or more of the dwelling units as restricted by deed for 99 years or as long as the law allows and sold at 120% or less of area median income or rented at 60% or less of area median income. This applies to all residential development of three units or more. The initiative also repeals the ability of residential development to satisfy its water adequacy requirements by implementing offsite water efficiency or conservation measures. If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no on this measure? 28%35% 29%35% Yes No Bozemanites were largely a ligned with the direction of the City Commission on the UDC update at the tim e of the poll. ➤66% of registered voters supported policies to allow and encourage restaurants, coffee shops, and pubs within walking distance of their neighborhoods. ➤52% of registered voters supported allowing at least 8 homes and 3 stories per lot in areas that currently allow small apartments, while 36% supported allowing at least 12 homes or no limit on the number of homes with a 3 -story cap. 48% opposed all versions of this policy. ➤49% of registered voters support allowing 3 homes per lot in all residential zones as is required by state law, while 32% prefered allowing 4 homes per lot under certain conditions. Nearly one in five (18%) didn’t have enough information to have an opinion. Many voters wanted the Commission to go even further when it comes to making it easier to build more homes. THANK YOU QUESTIONS?