Billings is home to more than 8,000 veterans, but finding an affordable place to live remains a challenge for many.
To address this shortage, CR Builders LLC has proposed a new 24-unit affordable housing development specifically for veterans on the city’s West End. The $8.9 million project is funded largely through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
The company’s market study estimates that Billings is short nearly 3,750 low-income units overall, including 359 units needed specifically for veterans. The selected site is a 1.7-acre parcel located right next to the Billings Veterans Administration Clinic, putting the facility just steps away from the planned homes.
“It’s about a 1.7-acre site that’s located right next to the Billings Veterans Administration Clinic,” said Don Sterhan, president of CR Builders LLC.
For veterans who have experienced housing instability, the project addresses a persistent gap in local resources. Nicolas Weitman, a Coast Guard veteran who has experienced homelessness twice, noted the ongoing need for stable housing options.
“I myself have been homeless twice,” Weitman said.
Sterhan emphasized that the development aims to create a supportive community rather than just providing physical shelter. Plans include on-site case management, program coordination, financial training, and technical assistance.
“Case management, coordination of programs, technical assistance and financial training will bring those types of benefits in-house into the facility itself,” Sterhan said.
Nationwide, many veterans need housing. Nearly 33,000 veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, established in 1986, is a primary tool for financing the production and preservation of affordable housing.
As Billings looks at where thousands of new homes will go over the next two decades, local developers and advocates continue to push for specialized housing solutions. “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,” Sterhan said.
“I mean, the more stuff like this we can get is amazing because then we can kind of help more veterans get taken care of,” Weitman said.
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