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HIGH
SIERRA
AFFORDABLE HOUSING VENTURE
High
Sierra Boulevard, Billings Montana
 
PROJECT BASICS
The High Sierra Affordable Housing Venture was a result of homeWORD
partnering with Montana People’s Action to build and sell
eight affordable single-family homes to families below 60% median
income. Because of the financial structure and affordability,
many families that are normally left out of homeownership, including
Native American and single-parent head of households, were able
to qualify. The three-bedroom houses are spacious, beautiful,
and the average selling price at the time of completion in 2001
was $98,000.
INNOVATIONS
By partnering with Rural Collaborative, homeWORD helped create a
second mortgage pool for low-income first time homebuyers. The
land was donated by Yellowstone County, the City of Billings
provided HOME funds, and the families accessed Montana Board
of Houses (MBOH) low interest loans to have truly affordable
mortgage payments. As a pre-requisite, all homebuyers received
homebuyer education as well as financial counseling. High Sierra
floor and design plans were featured in the Montana
Board of Housing’s Montana Housing Solutions,
Designing for Comfort & Quality.
SUSTAINABLE FEATURES
- Stress skin panel construction
- Radiant floor heating from
a domestic hot water source
- Ultra energy efficient appliances
- Modular design maximizes
use of standard construction materials
- Frost-protected
shallow design
- One-inch underslab insulation
increases energy efficiency
- Walls and ceilings heavily
insulated
- Windows
placed to maximize passive solar heating
NEIGHBORHOOD
A part of a fast-growing neighborhood, the High Sierra Affordable
Housing Venture is located in The Heights north of downtown
Billings, Montana.
FUNDERS & PARTNERS
- City of Billings HOME Program
- High
Plains
- Hulteng,
Inc.
- Montana Board of Housing
Low Income Housing Tax Credits
- Montana
People’s Action
- Rural Collaborative
- Yellowstone
County Land Donation
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