Long wait for Section 8 housing assistance in Helena By: Phoenix O'Connor and last updated 2021-07-16 16:20:46-04 HELENA â Some Montanans have seen increased rental rates in recent months, and Lewis & Clark County is no different. For renters that are trying to make ends meet while keeping a roof over their head, there are options for seeking help, although it may take a while due to the high demand. Cheryl Cohen is the Division Administrator of Montana Housing for the state. She says according to the American Community Survey census data from 2015 o 2019, "The median gross rent for Montana was $810, and that is an increase from $696 from the 2014 data set, so we can see based on that census data that it's definitely going up."