Missoula-based nonprofit Homeword recently received $222K from Montana banks and credit unions in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) Member Impact Fund.

If you live in Missoula, you have likely driven down Reserve Street—or perhaps walked or biked along the River Trail—past Orchard Gardens. With solar panels on the roofs of multi-family rental homes and farms and gardens woven throughout the property, this community shows what is possible when affordable housing, climate solutions and local agriculture combine to create a healthier, more vibrant community.

Homeword Executive Director Karissa talks property improvements, the expansion of our HomeOwnership Center programs, our lending partners who supported us in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Member Impact Fund , Missoula Gives and more in this Executive Director Insight video!

Several local projects related to housing affordability and homelessness prevention will soon secure a portion of federal and local funds worth $1.5 million, city officials shared Wednesday morning. 

The money largely comes from annual federal grants awarded to the city, including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), the HOME Investment Partnership Program and a separate HOME grant through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Stockman Bank, in partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines), is pleased to announce that 11 Montana organizations were chosen to receive affordable housing and community development grants to help Montana families find a safe and affordable place to call home. 

United Way of Missoula County and Homeword proudly announce a brand-new collaboration during this year’s Missoula Gives. These two organizations are teaming up to support the Housing Solutions Fund (HSF), one of the community’s most effective tools to help neighbors quickly exit houselessness or avoid eviction and remain in their homes.

Residents in northwest Montana will have new opportunities this spring to get face-to-face help navigating the homebuying process and building financial skills.

Homeword has begun offering in-person homebuyer and financial education classes in the Flathead Valley, expanding access to face-to-face learning opportunities for residents in northwest Montana.

In this Executive Director Insight video, Karissa joins Scott Burke, President and CEO of First Security Bank, to talk about our partnership and Homeword's recent Sustainable Communities Benefit Luncheon.

Carmen and Zoe, new homeowners and residents of Alberton, share how they forged a successful path to homeownership with support from our homebuyer education program. In our Get Ready for HomeOwnership class, they gained clarity and confidence, learning at their own pace and understanding what was truly affordable for them. With personalized counseling, they explored loan options, assessed their financial readiness and made informed decisions without pressure. Today, they’re proud homeowners, with space to build community and host loved ones. What once felt out of reach is now an exciting new chapter made possible with the right support.

March is Women’s History Month, and at Homeword we recently celebrated International Women’s Day on March 9. Homeword originated from Women’s Opportunity and Resource Development (WORD), a women’s organization founded to uplift women. Although we have been independent from WORD for 32 years, its core mission lives on at Homeword as we continue to recognize, join hands with and celebrate women in our homes and communities. 

At Homeword, our commitment to sustainability includes actively supporting and encouraging sustainable commuting for all employees. Team members regularly carpool, walk, bike, and sometimes ride the bus to work, and we provide covered bike parking to make active transportation easier.

When Susan and her husband first moved to Junegrass Place in Kalispell, they were exhausted, heartbroken, and financially drained. After years of caring for her husband, whose disability had shaped their lives for decades, his condition suddenly worsened. Piece by piece, the life they had built began to fall apart.

Missoula Community Access Television (MCAT) Media interviewed educators Chelsea Nichols and Alex Ramsing on “Your Missoula” about Homeword and our financial and homebuyer education programs.

The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that six awardees will share over $8 million in funding from the HOME Program, the Housing Trust Fund and the Community Development Block Grant Program. These programs help awardees with projects that meet the housing needs of Montanans, while supporting the state’s economy with good-paying jobs.

The Montana Department of Commerce announced today that more than $39 million in federal housing tax credits has been allocated by the Montana Board of Housing to five developers to build new or rehabilitate 160 affordable homes in five Montana communities.

Affordable housing nonprofit Homeword received $7.5 million in federal housing tax credits to rehabilitate the 10-story Sage Tower and six-story Fraser Tower, the Montana Department of Commerce announced Wednesday.

Catch up on our 2025 State of the Organization presentation, where we shared updates on our statewide impact, introduced new staff and board members and highlighted a special partner dedicated to strengthening affordable housing in Montana. The recording also includes the latest news on property improvements, HomeOwnership Center programs and our continued work to build strong, resilient communities across the state.

Executive Director Karissa celebrates our 2025 Annual Report and the stories that define our impact across Montana and invites you to our upcoming State of the Organization virtual presentation on December 2.

Read our November newsletter now.

“Because of Junegrass, my family lives a more fulfilling life."

At the Junegrass Place Celebration in Kalispell, Nicole—single mom of three and proud resident at Junegrass Place—delivered a moving speech about how having a home she can afford has transformed her family’s life.

Her story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when communities come together to create homes that empower working families.