Letter from FWC Board of DirectorsJudi Funk
From: Flathead Warming Center FWC <flatheadwarmingcenter@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2024 11:27 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Cc: Luke Heffernan; Darrin Andrews; Haley Barrile; Jane Latus Emmert; Steve Snipstead;
Aemisegger, Nicholas; Roger Nasset; Bethany Johnson; Jeffrey Scogin
Subject: EXTERNAL Letter from the FWC Board of Directors
Attachments: Email to City Before 2nd CUP Work Session.5.22.24.pdf
Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
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Kalispell City Council,
Please see the attached letter from the Flathead Warming Center Board of Directors.
Tonya Horn
Executive Director
Flathead Warming Center
(406) 250-8652
Q
1
City Council Members,
We appreciate the city council for taking time to engage in discussions around the problem Kalispell is
experiencing with increasing numbers of homeless people in our community. It is a nationwide problem
and needs to be addressed.
At the city council working session on May 13, we heard several community members express concerns
about communication with - or responses from - the Flathead Warming Center (FWC). We also heard
some individuals express concern about the perceived increase of illegal activity in the community. The
FWC would like to participate with multiple civic and private organizations to address these concerns and
explain the part we play in keeping 50 people per night safe, warm and off the streets.
We would like to engage in a discussion with the city and other services to develop a plan so our
neighbors feel heard and our unhoused community members aren't all labeled as criminals. With
collaboration and clear communication when problems arise, we can work together to hold accountable
any of the 50 Flathead Warming Center individuals we serve each night.
Some steps that we feel would help:
1. Conduct a meeting with FWC leadership, city council and KPD to develop a process we can all
follow for reporting and addressing unwanted activity reported by community members.
2. Get aligned with the city council on what communication is appropriate for our neighbors and
what the parameters of "neighborhood" are. To date we have been operating under the
definition of our immediate neighbors being within 150 feet as indicated in our CUP
documentation.
3. Offer an additional open house for the community to visit the FWC so they may see what we do
and can meet some of the people we serve.
4. Hold a meeting with city council and KPD to have a closer look at the data and statistics to
ensure we are addressing the root cause.
5. Seek state and local collaboration to reestablish mental health and addiction resources to
provide crisis support and rehab facilities in our community.
In addition, we are open to discussing methods of improving safety, security and health of our
community. Please let us know when we would have the opportunity to engage in conversation.
Respectfully
The Flathead Warming Center Board of Directors