About Us
Strong communities start with homes that let families put down real roots
HABCRO was created to help Montana communities open the door to attainable homeownership. Rooted in House Bill 819 and the Montana Community Reinvestment Plan, we work to build the homes Montana needs next — homes families can afford, homes that support the local workforce, and homes that help our close-knit towns stay strong for generations.
Learn About HABCRO
Our Mission
Our mission is to strengthen Montana communities by building attainable homes and reducing the financial barriers that keep working families from homeownership.
As a nonprofit organization, we are committed to doing everything necessary to support this purpose — from planning and development to partnerships, advocacy, and long-term community stewardship. Whether working independently or alongside County Regions, local governments, and partners across the state, HABCRO is dedicated to delivering housing solutions that protect, empower, and benefit the people we serve.
We focus on both sides of the challenge: increasing the number of modern homes available across Montana and ensuring those homes remain truly within reach. This dual approach ensures that every investment — public or private — delivers lasting value and helps Montana families put down roots for generations to come.
Our Role
As Montana’s CRO, we turn local goals into long-term solutions.
Under the Montana Community Reinvestment Plan (MCRP), HABCRO is certified as a Community Reinvestment Organization (CRO). This designation reflects our responsibility — and our commitment — to help Montana communities turn their housing goals into long-term, attainable solutions.
As a CRO, we partner directly with County Regions to design local housing strategies rooted in community priorities. We also provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds that stretch state allocations further, ensuring every investment has measurable, lasting impact. Through a streamlined development program, we deliver new attainable homes efficiently and reliably, moving from planning to occupancy with clarity and purpose.
With HABCRO as your CRO, every allocated dollar works harder — and every project builds stronger foundations for Montana’s future.
Our Approach
Montana needs more homes — and a better way to create them.
Montana’s housing shortage requires more than a single tool. The HABCRO Model blends development investment with mortgage support, ensuring homes are both built and attainable.
Our development investment allows us to fund and construct 100% of new attainable homes in participating counties. These homes meet or exceed MCRP standards, are built efficiently, and are sold at a substantial discount to market value — ensuring quality and affordability go hand-in-hand.
Our mortgage investment matches the State’s required contribution for each home, reducing down-payment barriers and lowering long-term costs. Together, these investments create a sustainable pipeline of attainable homes — built for Montana, by Montana.
Partnerships
Every Montana community is unique. Our solutions should be, too.
Montana’s communities vary widely in geography, character, and need. That’s why our work begins with listening. We collaborate with county leaders to identify local opportunities, align planning and infrastructure, and build housing strategies rooted in community priorities.
Our partnerships are designed to empower counties — providing the resources and support they need while keeping local leadership at the center of the process.
Progress in Motion
This isn’t a short-term program — it’s a long-term investment in Montana’s future.
Montana’s attainable housing effort is no longer an abstract vision — it’s gathering real momentum across the state. Since HB 819 established the Montana Community Reinvestment Plan in 2023, counties have been organizing regional strategies to address shared housing challenges. With HABCRO certified as a CRO in 2025, a new era of statewide collaboration began, bringing counties, partners, and communities together under one coordinated effort.
Today, we are working with more than two dozen counties to identify development sites, guide early planning, and build long-term partnerships. The first two housing developments — now underway in Yellowstone County — mark the beginning of a statewide rollout designed to bring modern, attainable homes to the communities that need them most.
This work begins with listening: meeting with community leaders, planners, and local stakeholders to shape neighborhoods that reflect local priorities and long-term vision. And as each home moves from concept to construction, it represents far more than a project. It represents opportunity — for families seeking stability, for employers who rely on local workers, and for communities building toward a sustainable future.
2023 - MCRP Act Passes
A Foundation for Statewide Housing Solutions The Montana Legislature passes HB 819, establishing the Montana Community Reinvestment Plan and creating the framework for long-term, attainable homeownership.
2024 - County Regions
Communities Commit to a Shared Path Counties across Montana opt into the regional MCRP model, choosing to work collaboratively to address housing shortages with coordinated, local strategies.
2025 - CRO Certification
HAB Development Becomes Montana’s CRO
HAB Development is officially certified as a Community Reinvestment Organization (CRO), unlocking the ability to match state funds and support counties through planning, development, and delivery.
2025 - Statewide Engagement
Gathering Local Insight Across 24+ Counties
HABCRO begins working closely with communities statewide to identify land opportunities, coordinate infrastructure alignment, and shape attainable housing initiatives region by region.
2025 - First Project Begins
Development Launches in Yellowstone County
The first MCRP-backed housing development enters active planning and construction before the end of 2025, addressing local workforce housing needs in Yellowstone County.
2026 - First Homes Delivered
Opening Doors for Working Montanans
The first attainable homes become available to Montana families, providing stable, modern housing for teachers, first responders, healthcare professionals, small-business employees, and others who form the backbone of our communities.
Working to create stronger communities.
Ready to make your community a better place? We’re here to help! Participating County Regions can schedule a kick-off meeting with us to start expanding attainable housing in your community. Your ideas matter, and together we will create real change.