HRDC offers both temporary and long-term rental assistance through the Home to Stay Program and the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program.
Home to Stay
The HRDC’s Home to Stay program works with individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness through a combination of case management, financial coaching and housing support.
To be eligible to apply for financial assistance you must be currently homeless or have received an eviction notice resulting from a sudden or unexpected drop in income. The household must be able to show that housing will be affordable and sustainable with their current or expected income.
*Please note: While financial assistance is not always available, everyone qualifies for case management services.
How to Apply for Assistance
If you are experiencing a housing crisis please attend one of HRDC’s Resource Orientations to learn more about agency and community resources available to your family. At the orientation you will be connected with a case manager to help guide towards housing security.
Please bring as much of the following as possible to the orientation:
• PROOF OF HOUSING STATUS – Confirmation of homelessness or a written eviction notice from your landlord.
• IDENTIFICATION FOR ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS – Picture ID’s for adults and Social Security Cards for children are required.
• DOCUMENTATION OF INCOME – Explanation of your financial situation.
After you have all the above information gathered, please attend HRDC’s Resource Orientation to determine your household’s eligibility.
Landlords: Click here to download the Landlord Request Form
The Orientations are offered:
Tuesdays and Thursdays – 9 am
Bozeman HRDC Office
32 South Tracy Avenue
Friday – 9 am
Livingston | Community Health Partners/Learning Partners Building
112 West Lewis St, Livingston
Home to Stay Program is available to customers outside of Bozeman and Livingston through outreach efforts – contact our main office for more information – 587-4486.
Section 8 Rental Assistance
The Section 8 Program assists low income, handicapped, elderly, and disabled persons with rental costs, assistance is based on the household’s income.
The Section 8 Program allows families or individuals assistance in renting affordable, safe, and good places to live. Recipients are required to pay a portion of their income towards rent (roughly 30%). The remainder of the rent is subsidized via the Montana Department of Commerce. Section 8 Rental Assistance is tenant based, meaning the subsidy lies with the tenant and is transferable per program regulations.
Households may utilize Section 8 Rental Assistance until 30% of their income exceeds the rent for the unit.
Who Qualifies?
Eligibility is based on household income.
How long is the wait?
The current waiting list is approximately 18 months. Applicants are always encouraged to apply as Section 8 Rental Assistance provides long-term assistance to help households reach financial self-sufficiency. Every effort is made to keep the waiting list as short as possible. Please be sure to keep your address on the waiting list current (click here for address change form) and feel free to check your status on the waiting list here.
What happens when I reach the top of the waiting list?
Applicants are notified in writing and an appointment is made with a Housing Advocate for an orientation and eligibility determination. In some cases, the applicant can apply the voucher to the unit they are currently renting.
How do I apply?
Other Questions & Answers
Click here for the Section 8 web page of the Montana Department of Commerce for access to questions, forms, applications, the Montana Landlord Tenant Act and more.
