Announcements
IRS, partners highlight EITC Awareness Day with Tax Resources
https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc
HUD Housing Choice Voucher Landlord Newsletter
RiverStone Health will host free blood lead capillary testing from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22 on the downtown Billings campus, 123 South 27th St.
The event will be held in the Live Well Center near the pharmacy. Staff from RiverStone Health will offer testing using a finger poke for any child 6 or younger.
Results are usually available in less than five minutes. They will also answer questions about preventing lead poisoning and provide helpful information on how to protect you and your family.
Lead poisoning is a concern for everyone and is a significant threat to children’s health and development. Parents should talk with their child’s healthcare provider about their risks for lead exposure during their 12-month visit. Healthy Montana Kids will cover the cost of testing for eligible families.
The event is part of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 20-26, 2024. The week highlights the many ways parents, caregivers and communities can reduce children’s exposure to lead and prevent its harmful health effects.
These outreach materials and more information can be found on Medicaid.gov/renewals-outreach-education.
Medicaid.gov/renewals-outreach-education
$500 Landlord Incentive For all New HAB Section 8 Vouchers Leased
HomeFront announces a new Landlord Incentive paying $500 to all landlords for any new vouchers leased. This incentive is available until funding is depleted. This milestone is a major move for HomeFront in its mission to lease up 200 Housing Choice Vouchers in our community.
This news comes in the wake of a turbulent and tight rental market with COVID-19 eviction moratoriums at the state and national level, more need than availability for affordable and assisted housing, owners choosing to sell given the real estate market along with many recent initiatives and accomplishments of the company, including:
- Rebranding from Housing Authority of Billings to HomeFront – Partners for a Better Billings;
- Finalization of Strategic Plan to carry out new housing initiatives.
“I am hoping that this landlord incentive will engage additional landlords and will open up housing opportunities to over 100 families who have vouchers ready to use, but cannot find housing in the community.”
About HomeFront: HomeFront is this community’s Public Housing Authority (PHA). In 1973, the citizens of Billings voted for us to be this community’s PHA. Our mission is to elevate the quality of life in our community by creating innovative, affordable, and sustainable neighborhoods. We do this by inspiring individuals and families, promoting partnerships and cultivating change.
“HomeFront is the largest housing provider in the state of Montana, besides the state program itself. We serve over 1700 families daily from our office and work with over 500 landlords with our Housing choice voucher program, infusing over $600,000.00 a month into the community through public/private partnerships by means of Housing Assistance payments to landlords.”
To learn more about HomeFront visit, www.homefrontpartners.org. Please direct all landlord incentive questions to HCV Director, Trina S. at [email protected], or by calling 406-237-1907.
Waterford Upstart
Waterford Upstart is a school-readiness program that teaches preschool-aged children basic skills they need is reading, math, and science.
The program is funded through a federal grant and is open to families in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Learn more at www.waterford.org/upstart.