Gardiner is currently facing a housing crisis. Through the 2019 Successful Gardiner Campaign, affordable housing was identified as the top concern among residents, and the statistics support this claim: the average home price in Montana is $440,000. In Park County, that cost rises to $715,000. In Gardiner, the average home price reaches $990,000, if a home is available for sale at all.

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This situation has significantly affected the Gardiner Public School's ability to hire and retain teachers, whose starting salary is approximately $35,777. The North Yellowstone Education Foundation (NYEF) is actively working to alleviate this problem through our Teacher Housing Initiative.

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Since 2020, NYEF has been dedicated to addressing the urgent need for affordable housing for teachers in our community. We have proudly transformed a historic building into three spacious units designed specifically for educators. Additionally, we are in the process of a lease to purchase another house that provides two more units. This house, which initially had a two-bedroom layout with a studio apartment, is currently undergoing a renovation. We are finalizing the remodel of the studio apartment to convert it into a fully functioning one-bedroom unit. We invite you to join us on April 18th from 1 PM to 3 PM to see our remodel.

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This summer, we are excited to announce a significant expansion: we will be adding three new two-bedroom, two-bathroom units on school property. Working with Custom Tiny Homes of Montana, these new accommodations will enhance our offerings, bringing the total number of housing units for teachers and staff to eight. Our commitment to providing affordable, high-quality living spaces supports our educators and fosters a stronger, more stable learning environment for our students.

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While we have exceeded our current goals, it is crucial that we continue to seek new opportunities to ensure we have enough teachers and staff to support our students.

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Check out KBZK's news report on our housing project.

 

Thank you for your support! 

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