Flathead Warming Center Staff Video for you from Tonya HornJudi Funk
From: Flathead Warming Center FWC <flatheadwarmingcenter@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2024 12:57 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Flathead Warming Center Staff Video for you
Dear Kalispell City Council,
As a team, we find ourselves in the position to defend our mission against misconceptions about what
we do, who we serve, and how we serve. In March the Flathead Warming Center entered into a PR
campaign. We have used clips from our staff to put together this 3 1 /2 minute video for you.
Hearing from the "frontlines" of how we do this work is very important. Our staff wanted to share their
voice. A couple of our staff members hope to share their perspective during public comment Monday
night. The Warming Center has been very blessed with amazing staff members. (Master level Social
Worker, Licensed Addictions Counselor, a previous Sheriff Deputy, social work student, an emergency
room patient navigator, a Montana Certified Peer Support Specialist, two previous Warming Center
Guests, and two current Warming Center Guests. Six of our staff members (half) have returned for
multiple seasons. I would be amiss if I failed to report that we have numerous volunteers return year after
year and this past winter season, we had 61 new volunteers working directly onsite with our guests. This
information should be considered in our defense of a violent and criminal picture that has been painted
of our guests and of the Warming Center by some community members. Please question. Would we
have such community support and the strength of returning professional staff if we were indeed a shady
operation, as painted by those who would like to see us go away. The truth is just the opposite. It is
because of our strong team and the investment of our community that we continue to improve year after
year. We have seen great progress in our mission!
This is a video of a few of our staff members. A few staff members want to make public comments on
Monday night. Please pay close attention to their voices. (We are all nervous, but especially the staff who
wish to speak, despite their nerves, because of their passion in our mission and their direct knowledge of
the pain involved in homelessness.) We have been blessed with good staff who have been deeply
engaged with Warming Center guests through our individualized Roadmaps out of homelessness, as well
as being on the frontline of the services we provide to our entire community, to include holding our
guests accountable.
Hearing from our staff is worth your time.
Thankyou for listening to all comments from our community. We recognize that this is a very
emotionally charged subject and that comments to the City and Council are not always respectful of you
as a professional or as a person. You love our town too and deserve to be respected.
https://youtu.be/KMAfSekRy6w
Tonya Horn
Executive Director
Flathead Warming Center
(406) 250-8652
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