<div dir="ltr"><div><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-41b9bc5d-7fff-f646-6c30-466a8ffa5a9e"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Contact: Hannah Kosel</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">ProHousing Missoula</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Phone: 507-458-3667</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Email: <a href="mailto:hannah@nmcdc.org">hannah@nmcdc.org</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Website: <a href="http://prohousingmissoula.org">prohousingmissoula.org</a></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">March 11th, 2024</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Diverse Coalition of Missoulians Championing an Equitable City Zoning Code</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Missoula, MT – – </span><a href="https://www.prohousingmissoula.org/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">ProHousing Missoula</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> (PHM), a new coalition supporting more housing options, publicly launched during an introduction to Missoula City Council on Monday, March 4th. Spurred to action by the crushing housing shortage in Missoula and seeing working families priced out of the community, PHM formed to advocate for more abundant and affordable housing in every neighborhood, starting with the upcoming Missoula 2025 Zoning Code Reform and Growth Policy Update. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">The coalition’s first action - a letter to the Mayor and City Council outlining a vision for the Our Missoula Code Reform process - is supported by a large and diverse coalition of concerned citizens, climate and housing advocates, and industry professionals dedicated to advancing housing affordability and vibrant, connected neighborhoods in Missoula. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Currently this includes Forward Montana, Montana Women Vote, Families for a Liveable Climate, North Missoula Community Development Corporation, Missoula Tenants Union, Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation, Hone Architects + Builders, DVG Architects, Upslope Group, Missoula Real Estate Meetup, Sightline Institute, COLŌ Architecture, Beyond Building, Montana Youth Action Board, and UM Bear Necessities, with others joining on a weekly basis.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">PHM’s letter makes two key requests of Missoula’s city leadership, staff, and consultants: 1) Ensure project completion by the established deadline of January 2025. And 2), ensure that Missoula’s zoning code is among the most pro-housing in the country, creating housing opportunities for generations of neighbors to come.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">In addition, PHM proposes that the new zoning code be built upon the following four pillars:</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">1. Diverse, abundant, and affordable housing </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">- Legalizing a variety of housing types to meet the needs of accessibility and affordability needs for Missoula residents.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="text-wrap: nowrap;">       </span></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">2. Compact, walkable, and human-scale neighborhoods</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> - Encouraging the development of neighborhoods that prioritize pedestrian-friendly design, connectivity, and a sense of community.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">3. Shared responsibility</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> - Creating opportunities for development city-wide to ensure equitable growth amongst all neighborhoods.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">4. Stronger financial and regulatory support for deeper levels of affordability</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> - Implementing policies that support the creation and preservation of permanently affordable housing units, ensuring availability of stable housing options for generations.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Brittany Palmer, Executive Director of <a href="https://www.nmcdc.org/">North Missoula Community Development Corporation</a> and member of ProHousing Missoula, shares, “This diverse group of community members has come together in recognition that, while Missoula leaders have made significant strides toward housing for all, we are still in a housing crisis and continue to see neighbors displaced from our City due to a lack of affordable homes. We need to be using every available tool to create a more equitable Missoula that allows residents and their kids and grandkids to continue to call this place home. The next key step is making sure the Our Missoula project results in a zoning code that supports a gentle and incremental increase of homes and amenities available to community members in all neighborhoods across Missoula.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">To celebrate the formation of ProHousing Missoula and its vision for code reform, PHM will be hosting a </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">private launch party for coalition members and elected officials </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">on Wednesday, March 13th at 5 pm at GoodWorks Place. We invite the press to join, listen to speakers, and meet with the diverse coalition of supporters.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">For more information about ProHousing Missoula and its vision for Missoula's housing future, please visit </span><a href="http://prohousingmissoula.org" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">prohousingmissoula.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">###</span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><table style="color:rgb(34,34,34);border:none;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:127.399pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt;overflow:hidden"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-kosel/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><img width="137" height="137" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4yuQRUiRVU7wxgpz6WE2gziAkALiHcw38OkIumNVZA36qLkFmd_e9Z7ler7Hjkyl88kRr7ZauE" style="margin-right:0px"></a><br></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt;overflow:hidden"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:800;vertical-align:baseline">Hannah Kosel (they/she)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:600;vertical-align:baseline">North Missoula CDC | Stewardship Coordinator</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">1500 Burns St. Missoula, MT</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="http://www.nmcdc.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline">www.nmcdc.org</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/northmissoulaCDC/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><img width="34" height="34" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4yFujfwdCuv6nMxAt_Pa5F7dKQ11ItEYxrA9bSwb-2WtHDWcOEZqZ_Fw-hsZfw3tS77xLLCzBM" style="margin-right:0px"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/northmissoulacdc/?hl=en" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><img width="34" height="34" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zqB7At-fqcwGnZdwd65sAiOSDoKoALyr97sI2Brw-sjMobBaVCNMv-b43J7SGVtZQT_-DR7SI" style="margin-right:0px"></a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/north-missoula-community-development-corporation/?viewAsMember=true" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><img width="33" height="33" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4xzh0vWCGKTYzcbdmb8CwU1qKR-xfJq9YjyFWt78rot5vMM3XWhvUznECSJw8SRxneRe2XQI-k" style="margin-right:0px"></a></p></td></tr></tbody></table><table style="color:rgb(34,34,34);border:none;border-collapse:collapse"><colgroup><col width="164"><col width="460"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height:127.399pt"><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt;overflow:hidden"></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding:5pt;overflow:hidden"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br></div></div></div>