On May 18th it became public that the Western Montana Mental Health Center (WMMHC) has been trying to sell two properties they own - The Bridge on West Broadway Street, and one on S. 3rd W. Street, both in Missoula, MT. Both of these properties offer affordable housing coupled with essential services to people with mental illness. If WMMHC sells these properties on the open market it will raise about $2.1 million for the mental health provider, but it will also make the current residents homeless.

The housing market in Missoula is very difficult for able-bodied people with jobs, much less people who must live on Social Security disability and who depend on mental health services. The waitlist for affordable housing in Missoula is currently a minimum of 2 years.

In the words of one of the resident's care providers: "eviction of many of the residents is really a death sentence. There is no way they could find affordable housing, much less function without mental health services in the ordinary rental market. If they lose their affordable housing, some will end up in jail and some will die."

It is in mental health providers code of ethics to not abandon clients without a plan for continual and long-term care. No such plan was revealed by WMMHC to the residents or to their caregivers.

On top of that, these affordable housing units were built and supported by public money: Federal, state and local funds. That WMMHC would try to extract more public money from local governments is highly offensive, but perfectly legal. If the Missoula City or County governments are forced to pay for these properties at the market rate, that would be $2 million less they have to address the housing needs of the rest of the community.

Therefore, because these properties are already paid for by public money, WMMHC should donate the properties to a local competent nonprofit committed to providing protecting the residents current housing and services. Or they should donate it to the City and/or County governments so they can find a competent and committed nonprofit to manage the properties.