Workforce Rental Units
For people looking for a new apartment in Whitefish
If you're hoping to rent a Workforce Rental Unit, we're the team you'll work with from application through move-in.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility is based on your household income relative to Area Median Income (AMI) for Flathead County, which HUD updates each year. In general:
Renter households earning under 80% of AMI are the primary target, though the program allows for some flexibility above and below that so there are enough qualified applicants for the homes being built.
You do not have to work in Whitefish to qualify. Employment in the community gives you a higher priority, but anyone meeting the income criteria is welcome to apply.
Waitlist priority is given first to households with someone employed within Whitefish city limits, then to those employed in the surrounding 59937 zip code, and finally to everyone else.
Your eligibility is confirmed before you're matched to a unit and re-checked at lease renewal (at least once a year) to make sure you still qualify.
[Link to current income limits by household size]
To apply, you'll need to show proof of income (recent pay stubs, an offer letter, and tax documents) and basic household information. We'll walk you through exactly what's needed when you apply.
How It Works
Pre-Eligibility Form
1
Submit a Workforce Rental Unit screening form with Housing Whitefish. This form lets us know if you are eligible for the program. Complete the form here.
Complete The Application
2
If it looks like you are eligible to apply, we will send you the full application. We will verify your household income and size against the program's eligibility requirements and confirm where you work (see priority order below).
Join The Waitlist
3
Workforce Rental Units become available as new developments finish construction, so most applicants wait for a unit that matches their household size to open up. We'll keep your file active and contact you as units come up.
Get Matched
4
When a unit becomes available that fits your household, we connect you with the property manager or landlord. They'll run their standard screening (background, references, etc.) just as they would for any tenant.
Sign Your Lease
5
Once approved by the property manager, you sign a lease directly with them. Housing Whitefish doesn't manage the day-to-day of the unit after that - that’s between you and your landlord.
Annual Income Recertification
6
Each year you will need to submit paystubs, W2s, and your tax return so we can recertify your income.
How Is This Different Than WRAP?
Housing Whitefish runs two different programs that both help with the cost of renting in Whitefish, and it's easy to mix them up. Here's the difference in plain terms:
Workforce Rental Units gives you a specific home with a built-in affordable rent. You apply, get qualified, and wait for one of a limited number of deed-restricted units to open up. Once you're in, your rent is set by the program's income formula, not by what the rest of the market is charging, for as long as you live there and stay eligible.
Workforce Rental Assistance Program (WRAP) helps you afford whatever rental you already have or find on the open market. Instead of placing you in a specific designated unit, WRAP provides direct monthly rental assistance to eligible working households, helping bridge the gap between local wages and market rent. There's no waitlist for a specific property — you find your own place, and the assistance supports the rent you're already paying.
Workforce Rental Units
What you get
A specific deed-restricted home at a fixed, income-based rent
As long as you live there and remain income eligible. Subject to annual reverification of income for eligibility
Monthly rental assistance toward a market-rate home you choose
Where you live
How long it lasts
Is there a waitlist
A unit in a participating new development, wherever one becomes available
Who it’s for
Households earning roughly 60–80%+ of AMI, working in or near Whitefish
What you need to apply
Yes — you wait for a matching unit to become available
Proof of income, household size, employment location
Workforce Rental Assistance
Any qualifying rental home you find yourself in the 59937 zip
Subject to annual reverification of income for eligibility.
No waitlist for a property; funding availability may affect timing
Working households under 100% AMI
Pay stubs or an employment offer letter, proof of regional employment
A simple way to think about it: if you need a place to live and you're willing to wait for the right one, the Workforce Rental Units may be a fit. If you already have a place, or you've found one and you just need help affording it, WRAP is likely the better starting point. You're welcome to apply to both if you think you may qualify; they aren't mutually exclusive, and our team can help you figure out which makes more sense for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. They're separate programs with separate applications, and qualifying for one doesn't affect your eligibility for the other.
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No, but where you work affects your priority on the waitlist. Households with someone working within city limits are placed first, followed by the 59937-zip code, then everyone else who qualifies.
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It depends on how many units matching your household size are coming online and how long the current waitlist is. Because units come from new construction, availability changes as developments are completed. We can give you a sense of current wait times when you apply.
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Yes, ask us about WRAP and our other programs when you apply. Our team can help point you toward what fits your situation.
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406-318-6890
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Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.