1999 Best Practices
Success Stories

Program Name:			Billings Community Housing Resource Board
Program Focus:			Fair Housing
Geographic Area:			Rocky Mountains
State:			Montana
City:			Billings

Executive Summary
The Billings Community Housing Resources Board uses a team approach to implement innovative Fair Housing practices. This "Best Practice" has improved processes within area real estate and lending communities by coordinating Fair Housing activities.

The Board was formed in 1991. It consists of more than 20 organizations, including the Billings Lending Institutions and Mortgage Bankers Association, Native American advocacy groups, the Hispanic Migrant Workers Association, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and others. The organization’s mission is to educate civic and business groups about the importance of fair housing.

The Billings board’s success comes from cooperation, ingenuity and thoughtful planning -- in fact, one of its challenges was finding common ground among members on how to further fair housing. The board developed initial and long-term strategies for reaching out to all segments of the community. Its initial and long-term strategies target a broad audience while incorporating 75 percent of HUD’s suggested actions and activities for fair housing outreach.

The board’s work is varied. It develops and distributes fair housing training and workshops for landlords, tenants, and other housing industry groups. Additional services and materials include a speakers’ bureau, conflict resolution and a manual on how to advertise available housing opportunities fairly. The Board also analyses local fair housing impediments and follows-up with a recommended action plan to remove them.

The board assumed a proactive role as the city’s primary advocate for fair housing. The board draws its support from a number of enlightened organizations, including local school boards, landlords, tenants, civic groups and Realtors*, a local trade organization.

The Billings Community Housing Resources Board has long been a pioneer in housing issues. It was the first group in Billings to formally accept a partnership with HUD, the Real Estate Association, banking and lending institutions, and local media. Due to the board’s collaborative, forward-thinking efforts, fair housing public outreach in Billings is quickly fostering a community that better understands the importance of an individual’s right to fair housing.

Partners: Billings Lending Institutions and Mortgage Bankers Association, Billings Real Estate Association, Hispanic Migrant Workers Association, HUD, Inidan Health Board, Living Indepedndently, Inc., Native American Advocates and YWCA

Financing: Various Funding Sources

Point of Contact:

Russ Brown, Phone: (406) 245-7526