Housing Trust Welcomes New Leadership
David O'Connor, Executive Director
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"As I begin my first month at the helm of the Big Sky Community Housing Trust, I’m honored and excited to be a part of an organization and a mission that has always been close to my heart. I want to thank everyone for such a warm welcome. Retiring Executive Director Laura Seyfang and Program Manager Becky Brockie have been very generous with their time over the past month in supporting and assisting in this transition, and I am confident we are well poised to continue to build on BSCHT’s successes, as well as identify more and more tools we can use.
First and foremost, I would like to wish Laura Seyfang the very best in retirement. Laura came to the BSCHT as its first director five years ago, and in that time has built an arsenal of programs to improve the availability of equitable housing in Big Sky. She created an organization that not only is affecting real change in our community, but also has become recognized as a leader, around Montana and the Rocky Mountain West, in creative and effective community-based solutions for one of Big Sky’s greatest challenges."
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Spring Fundraiser Brings in Over $42,000
Thank you Big Sky for your support!
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BSCHT launched its spring fundraising efforts on March 26, thanks to Winter Ball hosts Matt Zaremba and Allen Potts, and concluded with Give Big Gallatin Valley on May 6.
Funds from sponsors are still rolling in, but so far, generous community members and businesses have donated over $42,000 to support BSCHT programs like RENT LOCAL and GOOD DEEDS.
BSCHT wants to thank all who contributed, including Vacasa for donating a $2,000 gift certificate to one lucky donor; the winner is Leslie Jorgenson.
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Thank You SP Community Foundation
SPCF Awards RENT LOCAL Another $50,000
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RENT LOCAL offers cash to owners who flip their vacation rental, spare bedroom, or vacant property into homes for local workers. |
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Mission: "The Spanish Peaks Community Foundation strategically directs the generous contributions of our members to meet the needs and support the quality of life of those living and working in the Big Sky community."
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GOOD DEEDS Accepting Applications
Preserving Homes for Big Sky Residents
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GOOD DEEDS, BSCHT's newest program, offers buyers, sellers, or homeowners CASH in exchange for placing a permanent deed restriction on their home.
The restriction requires at least one of the occupants to work a minimum of 30 hours per week in Big Sky.
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2021 BSCHT Annual Report Now Available
from Laura Seyfang, Executive Director &
Tim Kent, 2021 Board Chair
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"2021 was a year of tremendous growth for both the Big Sky community and for the fledgling Big Sky Community Housing Trust organization. With record increases in real estate home prices, an influx of second home buyers riding out the pandemic, and continued transition of local rental units to the vacation rental market, Big Sky workers had an extremely difficult time finding housing options.
In the face of these headwinds, the nonprofit BSCHT made strong inroads into the implementation of the 2018 Housing Action Plan, expanding and innovating several programs. The MeadowView homeownership complex near the softball fields dedicated to local workers was completed, and all 52 units became fully occupied. The Rent Local and Home Share programs achieved substantial growth, providing immediate inventory to the rental housing stock for Big Sky residents. In November, the Montana Board of Housing awarded $6.49 million of Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits to the upcoming RiverView Apartment development along Highway 64."
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HOME SHARE Inventory Needed
Vacation Rentals for RENT LOCAL Owners
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By lending your upscale home to BSCHT, you allow other unit owners in a year-long lease to still visit Big Sky. If you'd like to participate, please email BSCHT to HOME SHARE.
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ALDER & TWEED
Alder & Tweed is an interior design firm and wholesale furniture company. As a family-owned business with over 40 years of experience, Alder & Tweed strives to deliver "a one-of-a-kind design and experience." In addition to its Big Sky office, Alder & Tweed also operates out of Park City, Utah, and Amenia, New York.
BSCHT would like to thank Alder & Tweed for its support on social media and its financial contributions during Give Big Gallatin Valley 2022.
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Explore Big Sky
"Creating 'opportunity across the spectrum'"
"When David O’Connor helped establish the Big Sky Community Housing Trust around 2016, he was like a spectator after an explosion. He felt sorry for whomever would be in charge of sweeping up one of Big Sky’s biggest messes. Now, nearly a decade later, O’Connor is holding the broom himself, but with confidence and enthusiasm for the task at hand.
Since its inception, the housing trust has implemented several programs and developments to alleviate pressure on Big Sky’s limited housing options by a few hundred units. But with an estimated need for more than 650 additional units to meet the workforce housing shortfall, O’Connor inherits the task of leading the community toward his vision of a more sustainable future of equal opportunity."
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"AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you."
Help create housing by shopping at smile.amazon.com
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Search for Big Sky Community Housing Trust as your charitable organization at smile.amazon.com.
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Complete your shopping at smile.amazon.com.
- Amazon will automatically donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to BSCHT.
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