Gardiner Strategic Planning Feedback

Thank you for providing valuable feedback to our strategic planning process! Please help us prioritize potential action items and solutions generated through our community conversation series to address the needs of each of our communities. We ask that you rank the listed ideas and provide additional qualitative feedback on what you believe we should be focusing on for each individual need identified in Gardiner.

For a deeper dive into the needs identified in Gardiner, please see our 2019 Community Needs Assessment.

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* 1. What is your connection to HRDC?

I am a customer.

I am a staff member at HRDC.

I am a stakeholder/partner.

I am a volunteer.

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Housing surfaced as the #1 need for Gardiner in our Community Needs Assessment Survey with 94% of survey takers indicating so. Of Gardiner respondents, 87% indicated they feel there is a lack of affordable places to rent. Similarly, 83% feel there is a lack of home ownership opportunities. According to the Gardiner housing action plan, 58% of community members were not able to find local rentals, with 40% indicating it was from lack of sufficient income. Over half of Gardiner households cannot afford the existing median rental and sales price. VRBO/Airbnb have also imposed huge obstacles in Gardiner with many homes being purchased for seasonal tourists. Minimal workforce housing in conjunction with the rapidly growing vacation rental market has had the greatest impact on Gardiners housing crisis. HRDC recently aquired land for future afffordable development in Gardiner.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of housing in Gardiner, please rank them.

Preservation of existing housing

N/A

Developing affordable housing - for those with fixed incomes and those in workforce

N/A

Affordable home ownership

N/A

Affordable rentals

N/A

Continue to inform local policy (i.e. zoning) to address affordability

N/A

Promoting awareness of housing crisis and shortage to community and leaders

N/A

Working with and empowering local partners in Gardiner to prioritize housing needs across their organization

N/A

Work with community to prioritize housing for locals over vacation rentals

N/A

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* 3. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of housing in Gardiner?

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* 4. Mental Healthcare surfaced as the #2 need in Gardiner in our Community Needs Assessment Survey, with 36% of survey takers indicating so. 64% of survey respondents feel that Gardiner lacks adequate resources for the mental health needs of youth. Similarly, 70% feel that Gardiner lacks adequate resources for the mental health needs of adults. According to the Park County Community Health Improvement Plan there needs to be an increase in awareness regarding behavioral health issues, develop in community crisis services, and increase access.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of mental healthcare in Gardiner, please rank them.

Help inform local and state policy that prioritizes accessibility and affordability of mental healthcare services to all individuals

N/A

Leverage our existing programs through the financial opportunity center to reduce stresses to income and finances that may impact mental health

N/A

Leverage our existing programs to help reduce stresses to housing that may impact mental health

N/A

Promote community awareness, reducing stigma

N/A

Connect community to resources in surrounding communities (Livingston)

N/A

Promote non traditional mental healthcare modalities (telehealth)

N/A

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* 5. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of mental healthcare in Gardiner?

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* 6. Healthcare surfaced as the #3 need in Gardiner in our Community Needs Assessment Survey with 19% of survey takers indicating so. Over 60% of respondents indicated feel that Gardiner lacks readily accessible, high quality health care that is affordable. One of the major findings from the Community Health Needs Assessment report was a lack of access as the main barrier to healthcare utilization. For many in Gardiner, they need to commute to Livingston for basic healthcare and Bozeman/Billings for more severe cases. There is a gap in transit options for individuals seeking this care in these satellite communities.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of healthcare in Gardiner, please rank them.

Help promote policy that aids in access and affordability

N/A

Improve public transportation to healthcare destinations to both Livingston and Bozeman

N/A

Continuing our partnerships with local healthcare providers in Park county - Community Health Partners, etc

N/A

Assist community members in the technological barriers that may exist when trying to make appointments or sign up for health insurance

N/A

Work with local organizations to provide space for virtual healthcare appointments

N/A

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* 7. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of healthcare in Gardiner?

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* 8. Workforce development surfaced as the #4 need in Gardiner in our Community Needs Assessment Survey, with 19% of survey takers indicating so. With a seasonal, niche job market there is a lack of year round employment opportunities. 37% feel that Gardiner lacks resources for those in search of employment including resume building, interview preparation, up-to-date job boards, and employment applications. Additionally, the lack of affordable workforce makes it challenging for the community to retain employees.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of childcare in Gardiner, please rank them.

Leverage our existing programs in the Financial Opportunity Center to assist Gardiner residents in obtaining and maintaing stable employment (employment workshops, financial coaching and planning, etc)

N/A

Assist local organizations in communicating effectively about current job openings

N/A

Advocate for policy surrounding employer/employee rights

N/A

Connect local employers to some of our existing programs that may help them retain employees (Financial Opportunity Center)

N/A

Advocate for policy surrounding the need for affordable workforce housing

N/A

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* 9. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of workforce development in Gardiner?

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* 10. Transportation surfaced as the #5 need in Gardiner in our Community Needs Assessment Survey with 19% of survey takers indicating so. 83% of survey takers feel that Gardiner lacks sufficient public transportation options. Feedback from the community gleaned that many wish there were consistent affordable transit options to Livingston and Bozeman for services.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of transportation in Gardiner, please rank them.

Help promote policy that increases transit funding in Montana

N/A

Extend transit services services to Gardiner

N/A

Help promote policy that prioritizes multi modal transportation (sidewalks, bike lanes, etc)

N/A

Help local government and agencies apply for transportation grants and funding

N/A

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* 11. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of transportation in Gardiner?