our town st helena: Democrats' Build back better includes a focus on affordable housing

Build Back Better: Dem’s Hoping To Make Historic Investment In Affordable Housing

“Unless you’re making a lot of money right now you can’t afford a house in this country,” Senator Jon Tester said at a recent hearing. He represents the state of Montana where now home prices and rents have been rising dramatically too. We’ve got businesses that can’t expand because there’s no workforce housing,” Tester continued. “There’s no housing for people who make regular wages ok?”

our town st helena: converting empty malls and big box stores means changing zoning laws

Converting Empty Malls and Big-Box Stores into Affordable Housing Means Changing Zoning

A year of Covid means that we’ve learned to work, shop, learn and recreate virtually. The result is empty office buildings, hotels and malls. We desperately need more housing, especially affordable housing, so it’s only logical to convert those empty structures into housing. But zoning laws are standing in the way of making an easy building conversion.