Billings officials are moving forward with a new housing development designed specifically for the city’s veteran population. CR Builders LLC, a local construction firm, presented a plan to the Billings City Council for 24 affordable units that will sit on a 1.7‑acre parcel directly adjacent to the Billings Veterans Administration Clinic.

Addressing a critical shortage

The company’s market study estimates that Billings is short nearly 3,750 low‑income housing units, including about 359 units for veterans. With more than 8,000 veterans calling the city home, the shortage has left many struggling to find stable, affordable housing.

Funding and location

The roughly $8.9 million project will be financed primarily through the federal Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Its proximity to the VA Clinic is intentional, allowing residents to walk to medical services and benefit from on‑site case management, program coordination, technical assistance, and financial training.

Voices from the veteran community

“I myself have been homeless twice,” said Coast Guard veteran Nicolas Weitman, who has lived the challenges the development seeks to alleviate. “It’s a need that doesn’t necessarily go away because you’ll have some people that eventually hit a point.”

Weitman added, “The more projects like this we get, the more veterans we can help take care of.”

Developer’s vision

CR Builders president Don Sterhan emphasized that the project is about more than just roofs over heads. “We’re trying to provide not only a good, safe, quality environment for the veterans, but we’re also trying to provide a platform for services,” he said. “It’s designed to provide that fabric so that they have camaraderie, goodwill, and social interaction.”

Sterhan noted that Billings has been forced to confront a looming housing shortage for the next two decades. “We found that there was a huge need for it. We haven’t done much for veterans in terms of affordable housing. We haven’t made that commitment of resources,” he said.

Next steps

The council’s approval will allow CR Builders to begin construction later this year. Once completed, the development will offer veterans a stable living environment, easy access to health care, and a community built around mutual support.

Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.