Monday night will bring a tough decision for the Powell City Council when they choose between two competing organizations for community development money. Both groups, Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity and the Rocky Mountain Manor, provide housing for low-income residents, a vital need.Each is a reputable organization with leaders who want to serve the community.The Rocky Mountain Manor serves seniors who live independently. In addition to providing a roof over their heads, they encourage community involvement through activities, meals and other events. Not all of its residents are low-income, but the manor does provide assistance for senior citizens who struggle with their monthly rent payments. The repairs that the grant would pay for would help them make some much-needed renovations to an aging 52-unit building.Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity orchestrates housing projects for low-income families in the area. The money would help the group secure land in Powell for up to four lots, allowing the organization to then build four homes. The group utilizes volunteer labor and material for construction. The selected family then pays interest-free monthly mortgage payments so that they can purchase their own home for a significantly reduced cost. Multiple families in need have already asked to be considered for Habitat homes in Powell.The grant money would help the Manor and Habitat for Humanity get the ball rolling for these pressing projects.Both are worthy organizations, and only one will advance to Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) later this month. There, the council-selected applicant potentially faces more competition from groups statewide, all vying for about $1 million.There's no clear reason why one local organization should be favored over the other, making Monday's choice a difficult one for the council.However, each organization has shown its resourcefulness, and we hope that one way or another, both are able to fully fund their projects so they can help meet the community's continued need for affordable housing.

Monday night will bring a tough decision for the Powell City Council when they choose between two competing organizations for community development money. Both groups, Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity and the Rocky Mountain Manor, provide housing for low-income residents, a vital need.

Each is a reputable organization with leaders who want to serve the community.

The Rocky Mountain Manor serves seniors who live independently. In addition to providing a roof over their heads, they encourage community involvement through activities, meals and other events. Not all of its residents are low-income, but the manor does provide assistance for senior citizens who struggle with their monthly rent payments. The repairs that the grant would pay for would help them make some much-needed renovations to an aging 52-unit building.

Mountain Spirit Habitat for Humanity orchestrates housing projects for low-income families in the area. The money would help the group secure land in Powell for up to four lots, allowing the organization to then build four homes.

The group utilizes volunteer labor and material for construction. The selected family then pays interest-free monthly mortgage payments so that they can purchase their own home for a significantly reduced cost. Multiple families in need have already asked to be considered for Habitat homes in Powell.

The grant money would help the Manor and Habitat for Humanity get the ball rolling for these pressing projects.

Both are worthy organizations, and only one will advance to Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA) later this month. There, the council-selected applicant potentially faces more competition from groups statewide, all vying for about $1 million.

There's no clear reason why one local organization should be favored over the other, making Monday's choice a difficult one for the council.

However, each organization has shown its resourcefulness, and we hope that one way or another, both are able to fully fund their projects so they can help meet the community's continued need for affordable housing.