The latest issue Public Comment from the Flathead Warming CenterAimee Brunckhorst
From: Flathead Warming Center FWC <flatheadwarmingcenter@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 3, 2023 12:48 PM
To: Kalispell City Council
Subject: EXTERNAL The latest issue
Hello from the Warming Center.
I understand we are sometimes in the same boat as far as receiving "heat" from the public. I want
to address the latest issue... "The Carhartt Boys".
The on-line public is in an uproar regarding who they refer to as the "Carhartt Boys". Pictures and
videos have been posted with descriptions of what people say are happening in public by this
group of guys. This is all on "Flatheac1411", which my husband refers to as, "The Mob". Although I
do not believe all the accounts of what is going on, we will not be turning a blind eye! A few can
ruin it for all of the rest and we can't have that!!!
After viewing the video, we, the Warming Center staff, know some of the guys. One has not been
able to participate in our services for months because of his behavior. He is definitely the
"ringleader". The group hangs out together. Just hanging out together prompts collective
community concern. However, it is their public intoxication that causes the most concern! In my
dream community that they would all be held accountable for their public intoxication.
Here is what I have done today.
I have a call into the Police Chief to discuss the issue. I think communication is important and I
know Chief Overman does too.
I came into the Warming Center early this morning to address the guys who we do know who are
in the pictures and the video. My intent, although I knew it would not solve the problem in the
community, was to ban them from staying with us. Having to continually defend our services
makes me mad!!! Whatever they are doing in public should not be allowed to be a reflection on
the Warming Center and the battles we already facie with "the public mob".
The long conversation with the guys we do know went very well this morning. They are to
immediately clean up their act! We will be watching. They are not to be drunk or drinking in
public, nor can they stay with us if they are intoxicated. I have asked that they do not hang out
with each other. (We have given the one with a Carhartt jacket a different coat because we fear
he will be identified as a problem even when he is not causing a problem.) These guys discussed
their poor behaviors and they accepted responsibility for the public intoxication and they denied
many of the accusations against them that were made on Flatheac1411. The spirit/ attitude in
which they approached the conversation and their statements about the changes they are willing
to make to their behavior are the reasons why they will be able to return to shelter. However,
they each understand if there continues to be any issue, they will no longer be able to stay with
us. Each of the guys state ways that they feel targeted in the community (many of our guests
report the same within the last month). However, as I explained to these guys, it is their behavior,
being intoxicated in public, makes them a target. There is no excuse for being intoxicated in
public!
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Going forward, I have no issue in letting any of these individuals or the group of guys know they
can no longer receive shelter or any of our services, if this continues.
We need for the community to understand, what we are doing is not enabling these behaviors.
There is room for improving lives and the overall condition of our community, when we work with
individuals! Kicking people out of services is not going to make the issue any better! Doing so, will
make the situation worse. And honestly, the situation will not be better without shelter!
These individuals are not new to our community. Not serving them will
not make them move.
It is hard to be blamed for "enabling" when I know we are not!
I can not engage in the panhandling discussion. We can disagree. I do not think more ordinances is
going to help at all and it does pain me to see you all work so hard and put forth the energy in
areas, in my opinion, that are not going to make things better in our community. With all due
respect for you all, I just can't engage in trying to put out a panhandling "fire" when "the house" is
burning down! I still believe there are things the City and Council can do to address the real issues
in our community. I just don't know how to convince you of that.
I do want to respectfully remind you of this.... Please, Please, Please, remember... You can set the
tone for how the homeless community is "viewed" in our community. It is a shame how poorly the
majority is being treated because of a minority! Some are rightfully afraid to be alone in public.
They are being flipped off, cussed at, water splashed on them, hit in the face breaking glasses, and
even shot at with a BB gun. This is not your fault! However, please help our community, by setting
the tone. It is not OK to treat a homeless person poorly. That is not the kind of community we are!
I look forward to better daysM
I want to assure you, the Flathead Warming Center does not ignore issues
or condone poor behavior. We will use whatever leverage we do have to
hold people accountable. Again, it is my community dream that we can
one day hold individuals accountable for their behaviors in the
community.
Thank you for your time. It would be easier to disagree with you if I
didn't respect you.:) Thank you for your work!
Tanya Horn
Executive Director
Flathead Warming Center
(406) 250-8652
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