This is a follow-up episode to our 2024 episode on Housing in Montana. In that episode, we covered various facets of the housing crisis, to show the complexities that exist and paths of action forward. In the episode, we looked at the process that Whitefish was taking to update their growth policy, with the housing crisis and growing pains being especially heightened there, as it has fully become a resort town, pushing working class locals out.

Whitefish has been going through a thorough public input process over the past year, to inform the growth policy. Recently, a small special interest group proposed their own version of the Economic Development chapter of the growth policy, with several edits and censorships from the original. On May 21st, two weeks ago, the Whitefish Community Development Board voted to adopt this new draft, which many believe undermines the public's feedback and discredits the lengthy public input process.

In this episode, we hear more about these happenings, and the larger story that it tells about wealth pushing local people out of their communities, transparent local planning, and having honest conversations about the impacts of high end tourism.

This episode is largely to inform Whitefish residents of the changes, to contribute to their own research and engagement. And the episode can speak to communities everywhere, as similar degrees of pressures are being felt nation-wide.

We also hear from Nathan Dugan, Co-Founder of ShelterWF, about these recent events. ShelterWF is a grassroots organization in Whitefish, MT, advocating for policies & engagement that ensures communities and housing opportunities for working class folks in the Flathead Valley.

LINKS:

Vision Whitefish 2045 - Engage Whitefish-Growth Policy Update, join email newsletter, submit comments

ShelterWF, also on Instagram

Northwest Montana Tenants Union, also on Instagram

Housing Whitefish, also on Instagram

Whitefish Community Development Board Meeting May 2025, Part 1

Whitefish Community Development Board Meeting May 2025, Part 2

Whitefish Pilot article on recent CDB Meeting

Whitefish Citizen Portal

File for Flathead County City Councils (Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls), deadline June 11th 2025

Housing in Montana - Stories for Action podcast episode, 2024

Stories for Action holds a mission to use the power of storytelling to spark positive action for people and place. Learn more about our film production, podcast, and story workshops for non-profit organizations: StoriesforAction.org Follow along on our Instagram and Facebook: @StoriesforAction

#whitefish #whitefishmt #whitefishmontana #flathead #columbiafalls #kalispell #flatheadvalley #flatheadcounty #housing #Montana #housingcrisis #affordablehousing #406 #sustainability #economy #economicdevelopment #housingpressures #rental #housingcrunch #community #tourism #thinklocal

In this episode, we hear about different community-guided and collaborative efforts taking place around river health (and therefore the well-being of the land and people), in the region of Missoula, Montana. You'll hear from those whose lives connect to these rivers; to inspire ways for folks to engage, but also to gain insight to all of the moving parts that contribute to a healthy community and watershed.

This episode is the recording of a panel and community discussion we hosted after a screening of the film Life in the Land: The Upper Yellowstone River in Missoula in November 2024. The panel includes Brian Chaffin (Executive Director of Clark Fork Coalition), Jennifer Harrington (Director of UM's Native American Natural Resource Program), Sarah Christensen (area rancher, Pintler Mountain Beef), and Travis Craft (area fishing guide, Thunder Hammer Fly Fishing).

The event was co-hosted by Jessie Thomas of Sustainable Wellness , whose philosophy is "the world needs us to show up for ourselves and each other. Your health is where we start". The event was also hosted by the International Wildlife Film Festival and The Roxy Theater.

Stories for Action is a hybrid production company based in Montana, that produces short films, a podcast series, and hosts story workshops…all with a mission to spark positive action through the power of storytelling. Learn more about our work at www.StoriesforAction.org or on FB & IG @StoriesforAction.

LINKS:

Clark Fork Coalition

UM's Native American Natural Resource Program

Thunder Hammer Fly Fishing

Pintler Mountain Beef

Tribal Consultation Policy & Practice: Jennifer Harrington's Graduate Thesis, regarding CSKT involvement with Superfund process

Frenchtown Smurfit Stone Community Advisory Group

PLWA - Public Land Water Access Association

Article: Bitterroot landowner proposes fences across Mitchell Slough

Sustainable Wellness

The Redside Foundation - providing health and support services for the outdoor guiding community

Life in the Land

The gathering that this episode was recorded at, was made possible through a grant from the Montana Forest Collaboration Network and the Montana Watershed Coordination Council. We thank them for their support of the Life in the Land project.

#rivers #Montana #collaborativeconservation #superfund #agriculture #familyranching #ranching #watershed #clarkfork #bitterrootriver #blackfootriver #bitterrootvalley #community #rural #water #cleanwater #publicland #river #fishing #flyfishing #montanafishing #Montanarivers #getoutside #collaborate #stewardship #conservation