JOBS THAT PAY A LIVABLE WAGE
Across Southwest Montana, the cost of living has risen faster than many wages. As housing, transportation, food, and other basic expenses increase, many residents are finding it harder to afford everyday necessities. Ensuring that jobs pay a livable wage is essential to maintaining strong communities, supporting families, and helping workers remain in the places they serve.
Wage Pressure
Across Southwest Montana, many people are working full-time and still struggling to keep up with the cost of living. Rising housing costs, childcare expenses, healthcare costs, and transportation needs have made it harder for households to achieve long-term financial stability, even while employed.
Housing costs are reshaping household budgets
As rent and home prices rise, more income must go toward housing, leaving less for food, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and savings.
Communities depend on local workers
Teachers, caregivers, healthcare workers, hospitality staff, construction workers, and service workers all help keep Southwest Montana functioning.
Employment does not always guarantee stability
Many households are balancing multiple jobs, long commutes, or unpredictable work schedules while still struggling to afford basic needs.
Economic pressure affects entire communities
When workers cannot afford to live locally, communities experience workforce shortages, longer commutes, and growing pressure on local services.
What We Heard from the Community
Our Community Needs Assessment reinforced what many households are already experiencing: wages are not keeping pace with the cost of living. Community members consistently connected financial stress to housing costs, childcare, transportation, and healthcare expenses.
Increase in people identifying livable wages as a critical need
Compared to previous assessments, HRDC saw a 369% increase in respondents identifying jobs that pay a livable wage as a critical community need.
Households are balancing multiple rising expenses
Community members frequently linked financial strain to housing, childcare, insurance costs, healthcare access, and transportation.
People are working hard and still struggling
Needs assessment feedback consistently reflected the growing challenge of remaining financially stable in a high-cost region.
Why Livable Wages Matter
Jobs that pay livable wages are closely connected to housing stability, workforce retention, child well-being, transportation access, and long-term economic health. When wages do not keep pace with local costs, the effects ripple throughout the community.
Income affects housing access
When wages do not align with housing costs, households may face overcrowding, long commutes, frequent moves, or risk of homelessness.
Families face difficult tradeoffs
Parents may struggle to balance work schedules with the high cost and limited availability of childcare.
Workers are commuting farther
As local housing becomes less affordable, more workers travel longer distances between home and work, increasing transportation costs and time away from family.
How HRDC Responds
Our work to support economic stability spans multiple areas of community life. By addressing housing, transportation, food access, childcare, energy costs, and emergency assistance together, HRDC helps households build greater financial stability over time.
Creating housing for those who live and work here
HRDC develops and preserves housing to help reduce the gap between local wages and local housing costs across Southwest Montana.
Explore housing work →Helping seniors and people with disabilities stay connected
Galavan provides transportation for seniors and people with disabilities, helping community members access medical appointments, grocery stores, services, employment, and other essential destinations.
Learn about Galavan →Helping families stretch household budgets
Food assistance programs help households redirect limited income toward housing, healthcare, childcare, and other essentials.
Explore food assistance →Offsetting high utility costs
Energy assistance and weatherization programs help households lower monthly costs and improve long-term housing stability.
Learn about energy programs →