Housing First Village

Housing First Village grew from a community-driven idea to create a safer, more sustainable response to chronic homelessness. The concept was first brought to HRDC in 2016 by Connie Campbell-Pearson, a deacon at St. James Episcopal Church, and continued to develop through partnerships spanning faith communities, higher education, healthcare, housing experts, and local supporters.

The village is based on the Housing First approach, which recognizes that stable housing provides the foundation people need to address other challenges in their lives. Residents have access to private homes with kitchenettes and bathrooms, allowing them to live independently while remaining connected to supportive services. An on-site resource hub provides access to case management, health resources, and other assistance tailored to each resident’s goals.

Montana State University’s School of Architecture also played an important role in the project. Senior and graduate-level students researched best practices in small-home design and developed full-scale demonstration projects. Two of the home designs used within Housing First Village originated through this partnership.

Beginning in 2019, HRDC further strengthened the project by incorporating permanent supportive housing best practices with support from the Montana Healthcare Foundation and technical assistance from the Corporation for Supportive Housing.

Housing First Village demonstrates what is possible when different parts of a community come together around a shared goal. By combining stable housing, individual dignity, supportive services, and thoughtful design, the village offers residents more than a temporary place to stay. It provides a place to call home.

Interested in learning more about the vision, design, and development of Housing First Village?

📘 Download the Housing First Village Guidebook →

Explore the project's history, Housing First philosophy, architectural concepts, partnerships, and community vision.