Flathead Warming Center Public Comment from Jeanne TurnerGood evening,
I would like to address some of the misconceptions that are being circulated about the Flathead Warming Center. I have been a volunteer there since it first opened in the winter of
2019/2020. My experience has been positive in so many ways, and I have never felt unsafe there. On the contrary, I have found the guests to be helpful and polite to me. When we have
had more guests than beds, I have seen male guests give up their beds so that a female guest has a place to sleep. They have been grateful for what help we can give.
Each guest is a person, just like each one of us. When we treat them with kindness & respect, they respond in a like manner (as much as they can). Yes, there are people with mental
illness and/or drug addictions that keep them from earning a living. The solution is to have programs in place to help these people recover (group homes, drug & alcohol rehab, etc.),
not to close down a resource that is trying to get help for them.
Another segment of the unhoused guests that we see are those whose income just won't cover the high cost of rent. There are senior citizens and physically handicapped people who are
on fixed incomes, and as the cost of rent rises, their incomes just don't stretch that far. As well as offering a safe place to sleep in the cold months, our staff works with them
to find housing that they can afford.
One misconception seems to be that because we are a low-barrier shelter, there is no accountability required from the guests. This is totally untrue. When guests arrive, they read
& sign a contract which lays out the rules for behavior, and the consequences for breaking the rules. Also, if a guest is there for more than a week, they meet with a staff member
who works with them to create a "roadmap" out of homelessness. If the guests don't follow through on these steps, there are consequences. Because of this, there are people who are
now sober, working, and have their own places to live.
Finally, I would just like to say that we are all a work in progress. When people face challenges that they can't overcome on their own, we should be willing to help them, not take
away what help is available. It could be us or one of our loved ones who is in need!
Thank you,
Jeanne Turner
2215 Widgeon Ct.
Kalispell, MT 59901