Tim MacDonald Havre Daily News tmacdonald@havredailynews.com
There is no doubt about it, Gov. Brian Schweitzer keeps himself on the move. Yesterday, in one of his whirlwind visits, Schweitzer dropped by District IV Human Resources Development Council. “This is a great place, I think that almost everybody in Montana finds themselves in one of these offices at one time or another,” he said. The HRDC provides a huge variety of services, from Early Head Start and Head Start education for preschoolers to employment training for people who have lost their jobs. There are domestic abuse programs to aid victims, energy programs such as Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and programs to aid in weatherization of homes. There is even an affordable housing program that enables people to build their own homes then buy them through a “sweat equity” system. It also provides Section 8 housing for the very needy. “Most families in Montana need help at one time or another. As the father of an autistic child, I have used the HRDC office to find help for special needs,” Schweitzer said. “This is a great program, it helps a lot of people.” The governor toured the facility with executive director Paul Preeshl and state representative Bob Bergren. He shook hands with everyone in the offices and a state-wide child care research and referral service group that was meeting in the building. He had been at a meeting in Fort Benton and had arranged to come up to Havre and visit the facility to keep in touch with it’s needs. “My office is in Montana, not just in Helena. I like to get out and stay in touch with the people of Montana’s 56 counties,” Schweitzer said. “I have been in every one of them.”
