Lack of affordable housing in Gillette leads to increase in homelessness, agency says

GILLETTE - A few years ago, life was good for Jacob Smith.

He had a construction business, two homes and "all the cars I needed." Now everything he owns fits into a storage container that sits in the hallway of the Way Station at the Council of Community Services.

Smith moved to Gillette when he was 16 years old, and he's lived here for 23 years. For the last year and a half, Smith has been homeless. He's bounced around, staying at a friend's house for a bit before going to another friend's home. He'll also stay at the Way Station shelter for a few weeks here and there.

Things went downhill du...