Issues at Depot Park Public Comment from Jane NolanAimee Brunckhorst
From: Jane Nolan <janenolan26@outlook.com>
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2023 2:14 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Issues at Depot Park (for work session on January 23, 2023)
Let me introduce myself. My name is Jane Nolan. I retired from Community Action Partnership of Northwest
Montana (CAPNM) after working there as Chief Financial/Development Officer for 15 years. I was intimately
involved with the many grants and efforts of CAPNM regarding assisting the homeless and reducing
homelessness in the Flathead. I have been a member of the Consolidated Housing Services coalition (CHS) for
many years. I am a board member of Lake County Community Housing Organization which provides low-
income/affordable housing throughout Lake County, MT. As you can see, I am very familiar with the issues of
housing and homelessness in Northwest Montana.
First of all, I would like to comment on the January 19, 2023 letter sent out by the Flathead County
Commissioners. I find their attitude and understanding of the issue of homelessness deplorable and totally
out of touch with what is going on in the community to address the issue of homelessness in the Flathead. I
would hope that the members of the Kalispell City Council are more informed and attuned to the efforts being
provided by many agencies to reduce homelessness.
As in any population, housed vs. unhoused; employed vs unemployed; healthy vs sick; there are those that
behave badly and create a bad name for the others. Most of the homeless people/families do not want to be
in this situation. They are there because of a raise in rent they cannot afford, loss of a good paying job,
medical issues in the family, etc. They are working with community agencies to become re -housed and stable
again. These agencies provide not only short-term shelter but access to resources. These agencies are not the
source of the problem as the Flathead County Commissioners imply.
I hope that the Kalispell City Council will include the agencies in CHS in working to find a solution to the Depot
Park situation that benefits both the city and the homeless population in the Flathead. Do not punish every
homeless person for the senseless actions of a few.
Thank you for your consideration of my remarks.
Sincerely,
Jane Nolan
52380 Lake Mary Ronan Road
Proctor, MT 59929
406-212-2138