Cutting of the ribbon marks the transformation of the former Montana Bible College into a temporary home

Bozeman, Montana – At their ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the conversion of the former Montana Bible College, Family Promise claims that despite the overwhelming demand for emergency housing throughout Gallatin County, things will soon begin to change.

“No matter what, no child should be without a house. They shouldn’t be, you know, sleeping on the street,” says Family Promise Executive Director Christel Chvilicek.

Chvilicek said this campus off of South 19th will eventually assist around 100 families a year facing housing insecurity, with 19 units available now and 9 more to be added later.

“In two years we had a 685% increase in services and it’s still not enough. We actually have about five to ten families that call each week,” says Chvilicek.

This project will set you back $7.25 million in total. Deputy Mayor Terry Cunningham believes that assistance from the Gallatin Housing Impact Fund, which offers low-interest loans to develop affordable housing alternatives, is essential. A $1 million down payment was made from this fund.

“It’s the type of housing that we need for our workforce and to get people out of RVs and campers and onto a path to permanent housing,” says Cunningham, “We recognize that transitional housing, emergency housing for families is an absolutely vital part of the continuum that is so important here in Bozeman.”

To pay off the loans, Family Promise is currently seeking to raise about $6 million. According to Chvilicek, the opening of this new institution will assist those who are correctly experiencing homelessness.

“It seems like every year we were talking about, ‘We need more space, how do we do this?’ And this just makes that dream a reality,” says Chvilicek.

Over the next nine months, Family Promise hopes to raise about $4 million.

At https://www.familypromisegv.org, donations are accepted.