Flathead Warming Center Conditional Use Permit Issue Public Comment from Vicki WalbruchAimee Brunckhorst
From: vicki.marie52@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2024 1:03 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Flathead Warming Center Conditional Use Permit Issue
Mayor Mark Johnson and City Council Members; Sandy Carlson, Kari Gabriel, Chad Graham,
Sam Nunnally, Ryan Hunter ,Jessica Dahlman, Sid Daoud, and Jed Fisher.
My name is Vicki Walbruch and I live at 134 Fairway Blvd. I attended the rather lengthy work session
last Monday.
I commend you for your position dealing with the issues facing the constituents in Kalispell. The
issues presented by the neighbors outside of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) radius are alarming.
I have been an active volunteer at the Flathead Warming Center for 3 years once the Warming Center
moved into the renovated facility on Meridian. It was daunting at first, but I saw a need to welcome
our unhoused into the safe, friendly, and warm environment provided at the Warming Center. A
friendly face, a shoulder to cry on or an ear to hear their stories. Our guests have become a group I
consider another family of sorts. I have seen our guests leave, seeking recovery options, moving back
with family members, and due to the Roadmap Program being housed in our community. The Road
Map program requires each guest to sit down with a resource person to discuss their needs and goals
after seven straight days of residency to move on with their lives and out of homelessness. I have
never felt in danger either volunteering there or where I find our "guests" in the community. I
certainly do not shun them either in public.
Since last week's meeting, it seemed to me that a visit to the Warming Center during our "season" and
sitting down with staff to learn about the resources offered by the Warming Center and the positive
outcome of the Road Map program might have negated the need for the lengthy discussion. I am glad
time was provided for those neighbors within the newly established 1/2 mile radius to express their
issues.
I also know there are unhoused in the Flathead who would never enter the center because of the small
living space, their lack of good behavior, or PTSD. Our guests are held accountable to the Occupancy
Agreement. I have seen how unruly behavior results in a night out, a week out, or a season out. Unruly
behavior is intolerable and affects the safety of the other 46 — 50 guests. Once out into the
community, the Warming Center is no longer responsible for that individual. It becomes a community
issue and might result in calls to the KPD.
I plead with you not to revoke the Warming Center's Conditional Use Permit and I suggest you
examine the following:
✓ Continuing to provide service by the Mountain Climber for our guests in the AM
and PM might alleviate the neighbors' issues, such as loitering or feeling unsafe.
✓ Police patrols after hours in the new 1/2 miles radius where the Warming Center is
not in control of the unhoused. Yes, it adds to your already stretched resources,
but it seems the appropriate response for those neighbors.
✓ As a resident of Kalispell who utilizes the Parkline, I no longer have access to the
public bathroom at Depot Park. It was closed due to misbehavior and is currently
under renovation. Porta Potties available within certain areas of the city might
also alleviate human waste issues.
✓ Establish a homeless advocacy group among the three cities and a homeless
advisory council.
Homelessness results from a cascade of events and a cornucopia of risk factors.
It could occur to any one of us. It is key that the Warming Center remains open, thus providing
desperately needed resources to our guests on -site,
offering them the hand up, not a handout. We take care of each other in the Flathead.
Sincerely,
Vicki Walbruch,
134 Fairway Blvd
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