History

Graphic of a leaf icon.

our HRDC: Instilling hope, developing resources, designing solutions,

and changing lives since 1975.

How it all began

Prior to 1975, there were seven HRDCs in Montana, but they didn’t cover the entire state. Gallatin, Park, and Meagher counties received very limited services for low income people. Those services were administered through the Helena HRDC, but there was no agency committed solely to the residents of our communities.

Prior to 1975, the State Office of Economic Opportunity (SOEO) had been committed to expanding services of HRDCs state-wide and began working with the Sociology Department of MSU to prepare a situation statement that outlined the needs in the area, thanks to George Galinken and Del Samson, who donated the resources to do that work. The situation statement was then compiled by Rodger Ala along with a team of young volunteers and sent to the regional federal Community Services Administration (CSA) office as a request for funds.

In May 1975, the first CSA grant to expand HRDC services was made to a newly incorporated HRDC in our district (District IX). The grant was a minimal $40,000, but allowed HRDC to move from borrowed office space at MSU to the first HRDC office on Main Street in Bozeman.

The first programs administered by the HRDC were Youth Employment, Weatherization, Migrant Workers, RSVP, and a childcare Program called 4-C’s. During the last nearly 45 years, HRDC has expanded from a small organization offering just a few services to a full-fledged human and community development corporation that exemplifies the very best of the original Economic Opportunity concept.

OUR History

September 18, 1965

September 18, 1965

Director Charles L. Schultze, Executive Office of the President, Bureau of the Budget issues this statement:

“We ought to involve [underserved populations] at the actual working level in the poverty program.”

September 18, 1965

November 16, 1970

November 16, 1970

Director Donald Rumsfeld, Executive Office of the President, Office of Economic Development, issues this statement:

Three following three resources must work together to ensure the impoverished can become self-sufficient by “strengthening the self-help capabilities of the poor and to provide them the opportunity and support to participate effectively through both the Community Action Agency and their own neighborhood and target area organizations …”

  • The Poor
  • The Public Sector
  • The Private Sector
November 16, 1970

1975

1975

HRDC is created and receives Nonprofit 501(c)3 status.

1975

1980

1980

Home Weatherization program is established, reducing a household’s heating costs by installing energy saving measures on an eligible renter’s or owner’s home. 

1980

1982

1982

Gallatin Valley Food Bank was established in 1982 by a Bozeman dietitian, Maggie Price, and HRDC VISTA, Mary Martin.   The Gallatin Valley Emergency Food Bank operated out of a small house on Mendenhall and Third Street, donated by the City of Bozeman.

HRDC begins administering the Section 8 Rental. Assistance Program for Gallatin, Park, and Meagher Counties.

1982

1983

1983

The Galavan bus service becomes a part of the HRDC providing transportation to handicapped elderly and disabled residents.

1983

1985

1985

Three Forks Food Bank opened in C.A. and Lena Murphy in a trailer on their property.

1985

1986

1986

Case Management services and Headwaters Home Health are established to address the needs of our senior residents.

1986

1989

1989

Micro Finance Program is developed.

1989

1991

1991

The Head Start Program becomes a part of HRDC, giving educational opportunities to preschool age children.

1991

1995

1995

Resource Property Management (RPM) is established to manage the affordable housing units developed by the HRDC.

Our affiliation with LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation) begins.

1995

1996

1996

Livingston Land Trust is established to provide affordable home ownership in Park County.

1996

1998 - 1999

1998 – 1999

Subsidized housing complexes in Gallatin and Park Counties are preserved.

1998 - 1999

2004

2004

Road to Home is introduced to the local community. This HRDC program offers families first-time homebuyer instruction and down payment assistance.

The Headwaters Area Food Bank opens for business.

2004

2006

2006

On August 21, 2006, Streamline buses begin providing transportation services to all residents in the Bozeman area. Streamline provides 121 rides August 21 and 87 the next day (Aug 22). In January, February, and March of 2009, some days exceed 1,000 rides.

2006

2007

2007

Huffing For Stuffing was founded by John Dudas.  HFS has become a community tradition hosting up to 4,351 participants who give back to out community on Thanksgiving.  

2007

2009

2009

The Home to Stay program is launched. HRDC reorganizes the delivery of emergency services to families experiencing a housing crisis. Home to Stay offers homeless prevention counseling, financial assistance to prevent eviction, first month rent and a case manager to help customers navigate through the multitude of programs and services available within the agency and community.

2009

2010

2010

An affordable home ownership opportunity through the West Edge Condominiums offered by HRDC, keeping housing payment at approximately 30% of gross monthly income. 

HRDC opens a VITA site in Bozeman to provide free tax preparation services.

2010

2011

2011

HRDC opens the Warming Center in partnership with the Greater Gallatin Homeless Action Coalition (GGHAC) in response to the short-term, immediate need for many to seek shelter to prevent loss of life due to the elements.

2011

2012

2012

HRDC opened a VITA site in Bozeman to provide free tax preparation services.

The Community Cafe opened on North 7th in the old Frontier Pies Building. The Cafe provides a hot meal to anyone who eats 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Big Sky Community Food Bank was established.

2012

2015

2015

Blueprint was founded to house youth experiencing homelessness.

2015

2017

2017

Big Sky Community Housing Trust is established.

2017

2019

2019

Livingston Warming Center pilot program is established.

2019

2020

2020

Headwaters Area Food Bank moves into its new location at 216 1st Street West.

2020

The history of 32 S. Tracy.

HRDC’s now-headquarters building was originally dedicated to the community in 1915. Constructed in 1915, this historic building served as Bozeman’s first Federal Building and Post Office until the mid-1960s, when it was used for the Army Reserve.

Following the vacancy left by the Army Reserve, the building was uninhabited for several years, although briefly revived for filming scenes in Robert Redford’s “A River Runs Through It.”

On October 17, 2001, the building was rededicated to the community as the permanent home of HRDC. A carriage house was built in the back of the office prior to the move in. The carriage house now offers two transitional apartments for families in homeless situations. The families can remain in the apartments until permanent and affordable housing can be secured.

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Brooke Poole

Public Sector

Since 2015, Brooke has been working with Allergan Aesthetics, Body Contouring. In 2018, Brooke began her role as Senior Manager of Training. Brooke graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Commercial Photography from Appalachian State University in 2011.

Brooke began her role on our Board in 2019. However, she feels it’s more fitting to say that she gets to serve on our Board. For Brooke, an evening at our Fork & Spoon was her first glance into our organization’s powerful work. As Brooke states, joining the Board has only expanded her appreciation for the caliber of people leading our mission and the impact of our vast ecosystem of services. While metrics alone are impressive, Brooke likes to visualize each number as an individual example of support – an extension of a helping hand, a moment of relief – given to one of our neighbors. She is grateful for the opportunity to participate in shaping HRDC’s future.

Although Brooke spends most of her volunteer time with HRDC, she was fortunate enough to build with Habitat for Humanity over the course of the summer in 2020. Her favorite place to spend time is anywhere under the Big Sky, although Hyalite may be her favorite place on Earth.

Ron Brey

Public Sector

Ron served as Bozeman’s Assistant City Manager from 1990 to 2008. After retiring, Ron joined our Board in 2011. Ron received his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Montana in 1977, and his Masters in Science in Rural, Town, and Regional Planning from the University of Montana in 1987.

During his time with the City of Bozeman, Ron saw the important role that HRDC has played in our community. Ron has seen that HRDC provides necessary social services to assure that all Bozeman residents could obtain housing, food, training, employment and the other necessities of life. He also came to understand that HRDC was always able to respond immediately as new community needs arose. Ron believes that the dedication, hard work, and compassion of HRDC’s staff make it a real honor to serve on the Board.

Ron also serves on the Trails, Open Space and Parks Committee for the City of Bozeman, and as a volunteer with the Red Cross. One of Ron’s favorite activities is walking his beloved dog every day, enjoying many of Bozeman’s trails and parks, like Burke Park, Bozeman Creek, and the Hyalite and Mount Ellis areas. Ron and his wife Claire enjoy spending their days with family, friends, and time outdoors.