The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Montana State University will present a discussion about “Crisis! How Low Rental Inventory and High Rents Impact Us All” at a September 9 Friday Forum. The event will be delivered online via Zoom from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. This discussion is the first of a two-part series. The second event is scheduled for Friday, October 14. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bozeman was one of the top five fastest growing micropolitan statistical areas in the country between 2010 and 2020 with the population increasing from 37,280 to 53,293. Bozeman was also one of six micro areas to gain at least 15,000 people. Rapid population growth in recent years has contributed to housing prices rising to unprecedented levels, preventing many in the community from purchasing a home. What may not be as evident is that rental options are also limited and expensive and are pricing out a significant portion of our citizenry and impacting the availability of employees. The impact on Bozeman and Gallatin County is enormous and affects nearly all aspects of our lives, from having restaurants closing to not having enough nurses at our hospitals, fewer teachers to educate our children, or no one to deliver the newspaper. Because the rental crisis impacts almost everyone in the community, OLLI at MSU is dedicating a two-part Friday Forum series to the topic in September and October. Part 1 in September will feature stories from local renters and business owners struggling to hire employees. City commissioner Terry Cunningham and County Commissioner Zach Brown will follow, addressing the financial and societal impacts that the rental crisis has on our community. Participants must register in advance and no later than 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 9. For more information or to register, please visit the OLLI at MSU website at montana.edu/olli/register or call 994-6550. Upon registration confirmation, participants will receive an email with the Zoom link and instructions to join the program. Friday Forums are offered on the second Friday of each month, September through May, by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at MSU. OLLI at MSU is a program of Academic Technology and Outreach (ATO) at Montana State University. ATO works across MSU to support and advance our land-grant mission through unique and innovative opportunities for outreach and engagement.