Warming Center from Andrew SappingtonJudi Funk
From: Andrew Sappington <androcules@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2024 8:58 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Warming Center
We as a family with small children on 3rd Ave East would like to express our concerns with the Warming
Center and their guests. We have lived at 220 3rd Ave East for 26 years and have raised eleven children at
this address. It deeply saddens us that our last three children, age 12,11,and 7, can no longer ride their
bikes around the block, go to the library, or just walk to the store like their siblings were allowed to do.
Everyday we have the warming center guests hanging out in our neighborhood and walking in front of our
house. The Episcopal Church across the street allows them to sleep in their court yard and migrate to the
warming center for food. Some of them have even been known to defecate on the church itself. It is a
constant battle to keep our neighborhood clean and safe. I personally do not think that I should have to
teach my small children how to carry pepper spray properly and use it just so that they can play on their
own street.
We would like to see the Warming Centers permit pulled. I believe we would see a great decrease in
homeless activity. They would migrate to Missoula where there are better accommodations for them and
they can get the help they want and need. We fully support A Ray of Hope, The Salvation Army, and The
Samaritan House. All three of these organizations do wonderful work that helps support local families in
the valley that are experiencing hard times. We as a family believe in a hand up not a hand out.
We do see and appreciate the efforts that are being put forth to help decrease the homeless population
here. We do witness the police moving them along from the church behind us and we can see the effort
being put forth. We truly do appreciate all that you do to keep us safe on the East side.
Thankyou,
The Sappington Family