Homeless problem Public Comment from Karen GarofaloAimee Brunckhorst
From: Karen Garofalo <skgarofalo21 @gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2023 8:33 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Comments on Homeless problem
It appears that there is a direct correlation to the increase in public intoxication, panhandling, vagrancy and all the other
unpleasantness we in Kalispell are experiencing, to the opening of the warming center.
Our Chief of Police indicated the numbers doubling and tripling as of late, and that directly correlates to the opening of
the warming center. It does draw more homeless into the area from surrounding communities as the "word gets out"
there is a place to sleep inside. The numbers are quite evident and clear, the cause and effect if you will.
Helping is wonderful, enabling is quite another. Our community should not be held to the lowest standard by enabling
this type of unacceptable behavior.
As a side note, to the council member from Portland Oregon, the programs he proposes have failed miserably in other
cities, as witnessed by the "Hell Hole" that is now Portland, where people are leaving in droves.
Thank you for listening.
Respectfully,
Karen Garofalo