Women's Giving Circle Awards Annual Grant to Montana Legal Services Association
The Housing Justice Project at Montana Legal Services Association was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Women’s Giving Circle of Missoula County.
The Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) is a non-profit law firm that seeks to protect and enhance the civil legal rights of, and promote systemic change for Montanans living in poverty, including those in Missoula County. Their Housing Justice Project aims to provide civil legal assistance to low-income Missoula residents who are facing housing-related legal problems, including unlawful rental fees, unsafe housing conditions, eviction, and more.
MLSA describes Missoula’s housing crisis as “a spiral that far too many of our friends and neighbors have found themselves trapped in.” Many are just one unexpected bill or illness away from being unable to pay their rent and fall into a spiral that often ends in eviction and reliance on the limited shelter system. The legal aid that MLSA provides families in their time of crises can significantly reduce the likelihood that a family will be evicted, interrupting the spiral at a key moment.
The two organizations that were runners-up for the grant award will each receive a $1,000 unrestricted gift from the Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) to support their life-changing work. The Poverello Center’s Medical Respite program provides a sanctuary for individuals experiencing homelessness while recovering from an acute illness or injury. And the United Way of Missoula County’s Housing Solutions Fund provides flexible funding to help individuals resolve housing barriers, such as rental deposit, rent and utilities in arrears, transportation and reunification costs, personal identification fees, and rental application fees.
The WGC, which is 88 members strong this year, has granted $64,000 to the Missoula community since its inception in 2018. Membership is open to all women and nonbinary individuals in Missoula who are interested in collective giving – together, the WGC decides on the focus of their grant making, learns about that focus through educational events and determines grant awards. Learn more here.
