Great Falls Housing Authority Terminates Management Agreement with the City of Great Falls

DATE:                   October 11, 2022

CONTACT:           Greg Sukut, Great Falls Housing Authority Executive Director, (406) 453-4311 Ext. 304

GREAT FALLS, MT – On August 24, 2022, the Great Falls Board of Commissioners voted not to renew a long-standing management agreement between the City of Great Falls and the Great Falls Housing Authority (GFHA). The transition of management will be effective December 1, 2022.

Over the past year, the Board of Commissioners internally reviewed the Housing Authority’s operating model and cost for management services. During its review, the Board discovered that no other Housing Authority in the state of Montana operates under a similar model. After analyzing the management costs, the Board felt that savings and efficiencies could be attained by terminating the contract with the City and utilizing existing staff to provide services internally. Management services provided by the City of Great Falls included legal, administrative, and human resources.

 “The Great Falls Housing Authority has been reviewing the Management Agreement with the City of Great Falls for a number of months. In looking at services that are provided and the costs associated with those services, comparisons were investigated and presented to the Board of Commissioners for the Great Falls Housing Authority,” stated Greg Sukut, Great Falls Housing Authority Executive Director. “After careful consideration, the Board has decided not to renew the Management Agreement. The Great Falls Housing Authority will continue its mission of providing safe, decent, affordable housing to low-income families within the City of Great Falls and wishes to thank the City for many years of support and service.”

The GFHS owns and operates five Public Housing complexes, manages the Section Eight Housing Program, and has 32 units of Affordable Housing in the City. The Public Housing and Section Eight programs provide rental assistance to income-eligible individuals. The GFHA is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Great Falls City Commission. This appointment process will not change with the terminated contract. The community members of the Board serve five-year terms, and the resident members serve two-year terms. All members serve without compensation.

City Manager Greg Doyon stated, “The City mutually supports the decision made by the Board of Commissioners. Over the upcoming months, City staff will be working with the Great Falls Housing Authority to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted management transition.”