HOMELESSNESS IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA
Homelessness is one of the most pressing challenges facing Southwest Montana. Across our region, more individuals and families are experiencing housing instability, often driven by rising housing costs, limited housing availability, and gaps in mental health and support services.
Most People Experiencing Homelessness Are Montanans
Homelessness in Montana is often a local issue affecting people who already call this state home. According to statewide shelter intake data, most people who responded had lived in Montana for five years or more.
Have lived in Montana for 5+ years
Most people experiencing homelessness in Montana are not new arrivals. They are longtime residents being affected by rising housing costs, limited availability, and instability in the housing market.
Less than 1 year
A smaller share of people reported living in Montana for less than one year.
1–2 years
Some people experiencing homelessness reported living in Montana for one to two years.
3–4 years
A small percentage reported living in Montana for three to four years.
Who Is Being Impacted
The increase in homelessness is closely tied to housing costs. Low vacancy rates, a lack of housing people can afford, rents outpacing wages, limited mental health services, and gaps in coordinated care all contribute to the growing need.
A $100 rent increase can have a measurable impact
National data shows that a $100 increase in median rent is associated with a 9% increase in the estimated homelessness rate.
Housing costs are especially high locally
The average rent for a two-bedroom home in Montana ranges from about $900 in smaller communities to over $2,000 in Gallatin County.
Housing instability requires coordinated care
People often need more than one service at a time, including shelter, housing navigation, health support, documentation help, and financial assistance.
There is no one type of person experiencing homelessness in Montana. Families with children, older adults, veterans, people who are working, survivors of violence, and people living with health or mental health challenges are all represented in the data. Housing instability often overlaps with other challenges, but the root issue is often simple: people cannot access housing they can afford.
Children and families are affected
In 2024, 740 children were served through Montana’s homelessness response system.
Older adults are increasingly represented
Providers served 1,418 people ages 55–64 and 624 people age 65 and older.
Housing instability often overlaps with health and safety challenges
2,023 people reported a mental health disorder, 1,173 reported a physical disability or chronic health condition, and 3,098 reported a history of violence.
Why the Need Is Rising
Shelters provide more than a safe place to sleep. Across Montana, shelters and partners help people connect to basic needs, health services, housing support, documents, employment resources, and long-term stability.
Basic needs
Emergency shelter, food support, laundry, showers, temporary storage, clothing, hygiene products, and other essentials.
Health and recovery support
Medical respite, clinics, dental check-ups, mental health support, substance use support, peer support, and recovery programs.
Housing pathways
Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, housing navigation, application support, case management, and help accessing important documents.
Specialized support
Family shelter, youth programming, veteran-specific programs, outreach, job training, and skill-building opportunities.
Shelter Is More than a Bed
Homelessness is complex, but solutions are working. When communities invest in shelter, housing navigation, supportive housing, and long-term housing options, more people are able to move from crisis to stability.
Moved to positive and permanent housing
In 2023, one in four people working with shelters or partners in Montana went to a positive and permanent housing destination.
Retention rate for permanent supportive housing
People who receive permanent supportive housing have a 98.12% retention rate, showing the impact of pairing housing with ongoing support.
Housing Solutions Work
Understanding homelessness requires looking at both local and statewide trends. Across Montana, more people are experiencing housing instability, with increasing demand for shelter, rising chronic homelessness, and continued pressure from housing costs. The resources below provide a deeper look at homelessness data, Point-in-Time (PIT) counts, housing access, and system-level solutions.
Explore Point-in-Time (PIT) Count Data
View annual Point-in-Time count data, which provides a snapshot of how many people are experiencing homelessness on a single night across the country, including Montana and local communities.
Montana State of Homelessness Report
Statewide data on homelessness trends, including increases in people served, chronic homelessness, and the growing need for coordinated housing solutions.
View Report →A Better Path to Improving Access to Housing
Research from the Montana Budget & Policy Center on housing instability, housing access, supportive housing, and evidence-based responses to homelessness.
Read Article →HUD Annual Homeless Assessment Report
National and state-level data on homelessness, including trends in sheltered and unsheltered populations.
Explore Data →Homelessness in America
National research and data on the causes and scale of homelessness, including connections to housing costs and economic factors.
View Research →Explore the Data
