Flathead Warming Center Conditional Use Permit from Ken YoungJudi Funk
From: Ken Young <kengraceone@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2024 7:52 PM
To: volunteercoordinatorfwc@gmail.com; Kalispell Meetings Public Comment; Ken Young
Subject: EXTERNAL Flathead Warming Center Conditional Use Permit
Attachments: 24.docx
[NOTICE: This message includes an attachment -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you
know the content is safe.l
5/18/24
Subject: Flathead Warming Center
Dear Members of the Kalispell City Council,
In regards to whether the Flathead Warming Center should be granted a renewal of a conditional use
permit, we say decisively, YES. YES, because we believe the FWC is providing an important service to our
community and the valley by offering a safe and clean shelter with multiple resources for the most
vulnerable and needy among us. Thankfully our law enforcement works closely with the FWC staff so
they can maintain a safe place for the needy but not for the criminal.
My wife and I volunteered at the FWC from Nov. 7, 2023 — Feb. 17, 2024 serving an average once a week
until health issues caused us to stop. As volunteers we assisted with meals, clean-up and visiting with
guests who wanted to talk. We always felt safe, largely because the staff provided strong and capable
leadership and the guests complied with the rules and structure or else they were no longer welcome.
During our involvement we witnessed a broader care for the guests: helping with rides for medical
needs, bringing people into the facility to guide guests with housing considerations, job possibilities and
overall helping the residents to get back on their feet.
Each time we drove away from serving we felt enriched, but always expressing a longing for more mental
health services and in-house drug and mental health rehab facilities. We were impressed with the
efficient use of a very small space to house more than 50 guests. To expand their property could provide
needed space for counseling, for classes and for chaplain services.
Our Kalispell City Council is tasked with the important goal of providing a safe place for families and
individuals to thrive in our beautiful community. To some, the homeless segment of our society is a
stumbling block to achieving this goal. Is it time for the council to seriously look at what a healthy
community looks like? Is it not a safe place for all — both for the fortunate and for the neediest among
us? Every community will always have its poor and needy; people who for different reasons are unable
or refuse to properly take care of themselves. This is real life everywhere. Yes, laws will be broken and
individuals must be held responsible in a caring way. Rather than pointing the finger and trying to
remove the poor, what if we came together as a community/valley (community leadership, churches
who have a special calling to minister to the poor and afflicted, and interested citizens) to provide for
them, to show mercy to the afflicted. Is this not justice — to provide a place where broken lives can be
mended and where restoration and recovery can occur?
We would urge the council to appoint a committee of citizens to examine successful and healthy
communities who are proud of where they live and how they take car of their own poor. Great Falls
would be a good place to start.
We believe the Warming Center needs to be approved by the city to continue its vital services.
We thank you folks for your service to help Kalispell be a safe and caring place for all people,
Sincerely,
Ken and Grace Young 910— 101" Street East, Kalispell 406-250-5840; kengraceone@gmail.com