Flathead Warming Center Public Comment from Jane EmmertAimee Brunckhorst
From:
Jane Emmert <jemmert@krmc.org>
Sent:
Friday, October 16, 2020 10:35 AM
To:
Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject:
[EXTERNAL] Flathead Warming Center comments
Attachments:
2020 City Council letter requesting support.docx
Please note: I have attached my letter for easier printing, but I pasted it below for easy reading. Thank you.
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E IG H BORS H ,_ . __ N E I H 0
Jane Latus Emmert
Director of ASSIST
iemmert@krmc.org
October 16, 2020
Dear Kalispell City Council,
Thank you for your service to our community. I am the Director of ASSIST, a 50103 non-profit affiliated with Kalispell
Regional Medical Center. With a small staff and approximately 20 volunteers we connect people to resources they need
to help them regain their health and independence. In 2019 we visited 730 people in their homes and helped connect
them to multiple services including VA benefits, Medicaid, energy assistance, disability and housing. We also provided
4,890 one-way rides to doctor appointments to people with limited transportation.
We work with many of the low income people in our community and understand the fragile nature of retaining housing,
especially during this COVID-19 season and exacerbated by the historical lack of affordable housing in our community.
We have great shelters in our community, but we need more. We need a full continuum of care that includes low
barrier housing, traditional shelter housing and supportive housing.
I am involved with a Housing is Healthcare grant through the Montana Healthcare Foundation and we are tasked with
researching housing resources and calculating the average cost of a homeless person to our community. A similar study
in Bozeman tracked eight homeless individuals for a year and the average cost was $28,305/person to taxpayer funded
systems (police, jail, ER and social service providers) for a total of $450,000. (https://mthcf.org/ resources/report-
assessing-the-costs-of-chronic-homelessness-in-the-gallatin-valley/) The long term goal of the grant research is to bring
multiple agencies and programs together in our community in order to create supportive housing that includes access to
medical and mental health support. I joined the Flathead Warming Center (FWC) Board because I know and work with
unhoused individuals who have lost limbs due to frostbite. I see the need for a low barrier shelter in our community,
especially during our Montana winters.
The Flathead Warming Center provides warm and safe shelter during the winter months. Winter is a health and safety
emergency for the unhoused in Montana. As a low -barrier shelter the FWC is able to meet the needs of those who have
nowhere else to go. The wide open floorplan, culture of respect and community, and clear guidelines all work together
to create a safe environment. Those who are homeless often spend all day trying to access the basic services they need.
The proposed FWC location on Meridian Road is an excellent location because it is within walkable distance to a grocery
store, the Post Office, United Way, Salvation Army and the hospital. It is also on the route for Eagle Transit. Please help
us as we work to help the unhoused in our community. Winter is coming and the need is urgent.
Sincerely,
Jane Emmert
Director of ASSIST
Jane Emmert
Director of ASSIST
406.250.1456 cell
406.758.1472 office
406.758.3287 fax
www.assistf lath ead.or
A%I T
NeicHeoRs NEIGHBORS
Compassionately connecting people to the resources
they need to regain health and independence.
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