Valley Neighbors of the Flathead Valley Opposes Hasty Evictions from Fairfield Inn Public CommentAimee Brunckhorst
From: Valley Neighbors Welcome <info@valleyneighborswelcome.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:09 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Cc: Micah@flatheadbeacon.com; bserbin@dailyinterlake.com
Subject: EXTERNAL Valley Neighbors of the Flathead Valley Opposes Hasty Evictions from
Fairfield Inn
For Immediate Release
Valley Neighbors of the Flathead Valley Opposes Hasty Evictions from Fairfield Inn
Valley Neighbors of the Flathead Valley, a community nonprofit advocating for and caring for immigrants and
refugees, is speaking out against the hasty and harsh eviction of Fairbridge Inn's long-term housing tenants.
Valley Neighbors' interest in this is our concern for those in our community who are struggling most. While our
focus is on refugees and immigrants, we wish to be good neighbors to all vulnerable members of our
community. In addition, as an organization that focuses on making our county a more welcoming
community toward immigrants, mass evictions like the one occurring at Fairbridge Inn make our work
more difficult, straining the existing housing market even further.
We are deeply concerned by the hasty action toward our neighbors who are being evicted from Fairbridge,
many of whom are hard-working people and many of whom are vulnerable, particularly in a limited and
expensive housing market. In addition, for those unable to find housing, winter temperatures could cause this
eviction to have very real life and death consequences for individuals who have been housed at Fairbridge.
We call on city council and Mayor Johnson to step in and use any resources at your disposal to slow the
eviction process, encourage creative solutions with the new business owners (such as renovating more slowly
and in pieces), and providing emergency housing support for these residents. We call on the new business
owners to balance their business interests with concern for the real people who have been seeking shelter at
Fairbridge. Rather than evict everyone, please consider a more gradual renovation process and provide
housing alternatives to residents who are displaced (such as hotel rooms while the long-term housing is
remodeled).
Contact:
John Skinner, Co -Chair
Valley Neighbors
214-924-7689
johnskinner83gmail.com