Concerned Citizen of the Flathead Valley from Tiffany Ekern (2)Judi Funk
From: Tiffany Ekern <precise.finances@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:14 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Re: Concerned Citizen of the Flathead Valley
Hello again,
I watched the meeting online last night. My concern is that the structure and low barrier model is not
going to work for the warming center. It's simply enabling and trained professionals are the only way to
structure a model that will work. I believe that the CUP should be yanked and restructuring and
reapplication will be needed. Someone is going to end up getting hurt or killed regularly if there is nothing
done. Too many emotions in that room last night. Let's stick to the facts.
My other concern is why in the world would we have the manager of Casey's bar, a Whitefish investor
from out of state, people who are paid through warming center AND fresh life speakers show up?? One
connection only - money and power. I live in Whitefish.. these people that spoke are all paid by the same
person and I can assure you that if there was a low barrier homeless shelter in Whitefish or Columbia
falls it would NOT fly.
I feel as if money and politics are playing a roll here and it needs to be based on what actually works for a
town our size. NOT a big city such as Austin, TX.
Pull that permit and have them restructure it to something that might actually work.
Thankyou.
On Sat, Apr 13, 2024 at 3:22 PM Tiffany Ekern <precise.financesCa)gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
I have lived in this valley for over 30 years. I am well aware that there will be homeless people, but not at
the scale that the warming center has created. There are people from bigger cities coming here because
of this warming shelter. A permit was pulled from Spokane, so they are coming here. There is no drug
testing. There is no alcohol testing for these people. There is no accountability. I personally work in a
healthcare facility, where we have a homeless person who has choked one of our nurses and has
threatened other residents, he is getting high and drunk off the premises and is a danger to everyone.
This is happening all the time. The majority of these homeless people are mentally ill, and when you mix
substance -abuse and alcohol in the mix, it's very very dangerous and it's terrifying for our community. If
you want to truly help these people through the warming center there needs to be drug testing and
alcohol testing and if there is not going to be that it needs to be shut down immediately. The homeless
are being enabled by this facility and have no reason to leave this area. In fact, they are inviting people
from other areas because word-of-mouth travels very quickly. How bad does this situation have to get
until this place does get shut down? My friend lives in that area of town, and I will not let my daughter
and her friend go out to play in that side of town whatsoever. The wonderful walking path cannot be
walked on, without being surrounded by homeless people who are possibly crazy. Please pull this
permit and make our town a better town.
Tiffany