MHA helps retain Bridge Apartments by giving the tenants Section 8 vouchers

Western Montana Mental Health Center is selling the Bridge Apartments to the City of Missoula. The apartments built in 1996 have housed WMMHC clients and other disabled individuals.

In order to protect those at risk tenants, MHA was able to offer them Section 8 vouchers through the Mainstream voucher program, which serves non-elderly disabled households.

In a collaborative effort between WMMHC, MHA and the City, nearly all the tenants had assistance by October 1.

“We are delighted that we had this targeted resource that we could offer in this critical transition,” says Jim McGrath, Director of HUD Programs. “The residents were justifiably worried about what would happen to them. The vouchers also give the eventual new permanent owner a strong base of revenue to operate the building down the road.”

MHA plans to project-based the vouchers when the new owner is selected, and thereby keep the building affordable for those current and future tenants.