Rockcress Commons Now Home to 124 Neighbors

In 2018, NeighborWorks Great Falls, in partnership with GMD Development and the Montana Board of Housing, broke ground on Rockcress Commons Apartments. As of Fall 2020, the entire complex is 100% leased and now a place for 124 individuals and families to call home.

Located on the south end of Great Falls near Great Falls College MSU, Rockcress Commons offers one, two, and three-bedroom affordable apartments with income guidelines in place for at least the next 46 years. This will guarantee that these apartment homes remain affordable for generations to come. “We see a great need in the community to continue developing and supporting workforce housing, and Rockcress Commons has been our greatest effort to date in making that happen,” states Sherrie Arey, NeighborWorks Great Falls’ Executive Director. “We believe our local, hard-working families and individual deserve a safe, affordable, quality place to live, and Rockcress Commons provides just that.”

Rockcress Commons was made possible through Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) awarded in 2016. The LIHTC program is the primary way affordable housing is created across the country. Private funds are used to invest in creating safe, healthy, and affordable homes for years to come. NeighborWorks Great Falls will offer residents NWGF services, focusing on building financial capability such as credit repair, debt reduction, and savings plans. “Much like with our homeownership programs, our ultimate goal with these apartments is to be a stepping stone. We provide the support needed now so that families can build wealth and move forward while creating space for the next family, and so on – hopefully creating a cycle for families to be financially stable and healthy,” said Arey.

A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Rockcress Commons development will be tentatively planned for late spring of 2021 due to weather and social distancing guidelines. Stay tuned for details and a chance to tour the grounds next year.

To learn more about Rockcress Commons, visit https://www.nwgf.org/rockcresscommons.