SUMMARY
Last week, the 2025 Montana Housing Partnership Conference in Billings brought together more than 350 housing professionals, developers, policymakers, and advocates from across the state and beyond. It was more than just a meeting of minds—it was a powerful reminder that when collaboration leads, progress follows.

Why We Do What We Do

At Builders Patch, we believe affordable housing is not just a market—it’s a mission. This conference reaffirmed why we build: to support the people building communities. From rural developers to public finance leaders, the energy in Billings was grounded in a shared purpose—making homes more accessible for everyone.

Technology as a Connector

A standout moment from the conference was our CEO, Kanan Ajmera, joining the panel “Getting Comfortable with AI: Building a Safe-to-Fail Sandbox.” Alongside Chris Hermance of Montana Department of Administration/SITSD, Enterprise Architect and Chris Powell of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the panel tackled the misconceptions around AI and focused on its practical, human-centered applications.

From automating document reviews to simplifying underwriting, AI is quietly transforming housing work behind the scenes—not replacing people, but empowering them. The session emphasized that responsible AI can reduce admin burden and free up teams to focus on relationship-building and decision-making—the work that really matters.

Leveling the Playing Field

What’s most exciting? These tools aren’t just for the biggest players anymore. AI-enabled workflows are helping small and mid-sized housing organizations run with the same sophistication as large institutions. 

Collaborative, Not Competitive

This event was a testament to the deeply collaborative nature of the affordable housing sector. The conference wasn’t about showing off—it was about showing up. Practitioners shared tools, lessons, and hard-won insights with generosity. Everyone came with the same goal: to do more good, for more people, more efficiently.

Looking Ahead

We left Billings inspired by the commitment, creativity, and clarity we saw from Montana’s housing community. Technology is evolving, yes—but at its best, it’s helping us return to what matters most: connecting people, strengthening communities, and getting more homes built.

We're proud to be part of this movement—and we’re just getting started.

Let’s keep building—together.

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