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$50M secured to combat MT housing crisis

News from the office of Senator Tester

U.S. SENATE — Amid Montana’s worsening housing crisis, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the Montana Homeowners Assistance Fund to help homeowners that have experienced financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tester was Montana’s only statewide elected official that supported the American Rescue Plan.

“The COVID-19 Pandemic exacerbated Montana’s housing crisis, but through the American Rescue Plan we’ve been able to cut costs for struggling homeowners and keep Montana’s economy strong,” said Tester. “Stable housing is critical to the well-being of families across the state, and these resources will ensure that those hit the hardest by the pandemic will be able to rebound with the rest of Montana. This is great news for folks chasing the American dream of home ownership, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make that dream more attainable for all Montanans.”

The Homeowners Assistance Fund was created by ARPA, and funds are now available to homeowners who experienced financial hardships January 21, 2020. Montana homeowners whose gross household income does not exceed 150 percent of the Area Median Income can qualify for funding. Additionally, 60 percent of funds available must target Montanans whose gross household income does not exceed 100 percent of the Area Median Income.

Qualified homeowners may use Homeowners Assistance Funding for the following:

- Mortgage Reinstatement: Financial assistance, in the form of an interest-free loan, to bring a mortgage account current with no remaining delinquent amounts, including payments under a forbearance plan, and to repay amounts advanced by the lender or servicer on the Borrower’s behalf for property charges. - Lien Prevention: Financial assistance, in the form of a grant, to prevent property tax foreclosure or remove or prevent creation of other liens that would place the homeowner at imminent risk of displacement. - Utilities/Internet: Electric, gas, home energy costs, and internet/ broadband assistance.

More information on eligibility and the application process can be found at: www.housing. mt.gov/Homeownership/Homeowner-Assistance-Fund.

NOTICE OF HIRING MEETING

Charlo School District 7J Board of Trustee intends to hire Jessa Smith, niece of Trustee Stephanie Smith as a paraprofessional. The Board of Trustees also intends to hire Lorri O’Neill mother-in-law of Trustee Daniel Cahoon, as a full time teacher. These hiring will take place at a Special Board meeting on August 31, 2022 at 8:00pm in the Charlo School Library.

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Stories by Jeff Smith of Anderson Broadcasting for the Valley Journal

Ohara pleads not guilty to burglary

POLSON — A Bigfork man is accused of breaking into two Montana Department of Transportation facilities and the Bigfork Gun Club. Colby Glenn Ohara, 32, entered a plea of not guilty at District Court in Polson on Aug. 17 to three counts of felony burglary.

According to court records, on July 14, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a report of a break-in with items missing at a MDOT facility on U.S. Highway 83 near mile marker 80.5. On July 17 a break-in with items missing was reported at the Bigfork Gun Club. Another MDOT facility on U.S. Highway 83 near mile marker 58 was broken into sometime between July 22 and July 26. On July 28, someone attempted to use a credit card stolen from one of the MDOT facilities at an area gas station. Lake County Undersheriff Ben Woods was able to get a license plate number of the vehicle the person who attempted to use the card was driving and traced it to Ohara. A search warrant was obtained for where Ohara was staying. A search of the residence turned up items stolen from the burglaries. When questioned, Ohara admitted to the burglaries.

Judge Molly Owen set a jury trial for Feb. 6, 2023. Ohara is at liberty.

Child support awareness celebrates families

Story and Photos by Taylor Davison / Valley Journal

RONAN — As part of Child Support Awareness Month, the Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program held a Fun Day event to bring families together and provide support for kids and parents in need.

An annual event for current participants to recognize and acknowledge both those paying and receiving child support, this year’s event was carnival themed. Aimed towards some of the younger children in the program, the day offered plenty of games and activities, as well as door prizes and free lunch. On the practical end of things, they also had baskets of household goods that attendees could take for free.

“It’s just a fun day for us to bring everybody together, let the families be families, and it’s always a good time,” Project Director Hank Conko-Camel said. “We never really meet the people, we just see their names … This gives us an opportunity to meet our people and see the kids.”

The program currently has over 500 active cases, and has seen an estimated 3,000 since it began back in 2013.

Prior to their establishment in 2013, there had been no child support enforcement program with jurisdiction within the Flathead Reservation. Now, the Tribal Child Support Enforcement Program works for all parents and guardians within the boundaries of the reservation, both tribal and non-tribal alike, and has a good working relationship with the state.

“We mostly deal with low-income families. There’s no guideline to receive services, but the ones that usually come in are the ones that really need it,” Conko-Camel commented.

One common misconception she cleared up was that child support is not only for mothers. Fathers and grandparents acting as custodial guardians can collect child support as well and the process usually takes three to four months from beginning to end once the non-custodial parent is

Bipartisan Toxic Exposure Bill signed into law

Senator worked for months to deliver historic support for toxic-exposed veterans and their families through his Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act

News from the Office of Senator Tester

U.S. Senate — After sustained efforts from Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, President Joe Biden signed into law the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022—bipartisan legislation championed by the Senator to deliver multiple generations of toxic-exposed veterans their earned health care and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the first time in the nation’s history.

“This is a historic moment that has been months—even decades—in the making,” said Chairman Tester. “For generations, toxic-exposed veterans have been left to fight our government to get the health care and benefits they have earned. I’m proud to say after today, this fight is over. I’m grateful to Ranking Member Jerry Moran, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chair Mark Takano, our colleagues, Veterans Service Organizations, veterans’ advocates, and the Biden Administration for making this possible. Together, we are keeping our end of the bargain for promises made to our men and women who served in uniform.”

Named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson who died in 2020 from toxic exposure as a result of his military service, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act is comprehensive legislation to expand health care for Post-9/11 combat veterans, create a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure, expand VA’s list of service presumptions, and improve resources to support VA’s claims processing.

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“We’re here to work for both (custodial and noncustodial) sides,” Conko-Camel explained. “A lot of people think we’re against them, that when we serve you, we’re against you. That’s not it. We work for both sides of the party, whether you pay or receive. You can’t get blood out of a turnip.”

The program often attends events as a vendor to help get word out about the help they can offer and have applications on site during those instances. For those interested in potentially become a participant of the program and receiving help, they can call Conko-Camel at 406-676-2700 ext. 1284.

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