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History of Great Falls NWGF 1980 – Neighborhood Housing Services of Great Falls is founded by neighbors, community leaders and lenders concerned about the state of Great Falls historic neighborhoods. Blocks of Great Falls were in a state of accelerated decline. More than 300 structures were dilapidated and boarded up. The vacancy rate was 16%. The neighborhood is the original townsite area west of 10th Street between 10th Avenue South and 8th Avenue North. 1981 – 1983 For the first few years efforts primarily involved home improvement loans to home owners, elimination of trash, removal of junk vehicles, repair or removal of dilapidated fences and removal of run down buildings. 1983 – Nancy O’Brien becomes Executive Director 1983 - The Eyesore Committee cleans up 25 properties on 6th Avenue South between 4th and 7th Street, the start of the Annual Mapril Clean-up which continues today 1984 - NHS first Annual Fund drive gathers contributions from 88 contributors; today over 400 businesses annually support NHS. 1986 - The mission of NHS is expanded to provide new affordable housing for lower income families, in addition to rebuilding neighborhoods. 1991 – The first Owners In Partnership (OIP) new construction project was started. Through this program, more than 100 new homes have been built in the Neighborhood. Home Buyers Club and homebuyer education program are started. NHS expands four blocks east to 15th Street. 1993 – NHS is one of 20 agencies selected to participate in a nationwide HomeOwnership Campaign, by our national partners, Neighborhood Reinvestment. 1994 – NHS expands to the South west side of Great Falls. 1997 - The High School House project is started. Two homes are built each year by students from the Advanced Building Trades classes. Local lenders provide a million dollars for rehabilitation loans and down payment assistance. 1998 – NHS starts construction of 17 new homes near 38th Street and Central Avenue. 2000 – NHS expands to 25th Street on the north side of Central. NHS helps create a statewide affiliate, the Montana HomeOwnership Network, to provide homebuyer education and down payment and closing costs loans throughout Montana. 2003 – NHS completes the National HomeOwnership Campaign, finishing third in the nation out of 120 participating agencies. Construction is completed on 7 new homes in the 1800 block of 9th Avenue South. 2004 - NHS builds three two-story homes on 5th Avenue North (two are high school houses). NHS purchases its office space. 2005 - NHS celebrates its 25th anniversary of revitalizing neighborhoods. The first Mutual Self-Help Programs started with 10 owner-builders in the Pearson Addition south of Great Falls. 2006 - NHS begins renovating the former Boyd Apartments into the Gibson Townhomes on 5th Avene North at 5th Street. |