FH Warming Center Public Comment from Catherine KraftAimee Brunckhorst
From: Catherine Kraft <cathy.kraft.54@outlook.com>
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2024 7:47 PM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL FH Warming Center
I am writing to express my unwavering support for the Flathead Warming Center. I understand that the homeless
population in the valley is a huge issue. Today, as I walked to attend the Art in the Park fair, there were a group of
individuals north of the Parks and Rec building who I assume to be homeless. They were loud, obnoxious, and obscene in
their language. However, these are individuals who have long-standing mental health/addiction issues. They are not
going away, and their issues are not going away. At least we know every night approximately 60 people have sheltered
during our harsh winter months. These 60 folks do not need emergency medical services each night and a significant
number of them receive enough support through the Center that they are able to begin to move forward with their lives.
I was dropping off socks two years ago when a guest of the Center offered to give me a tour. He was absolutely delightful.
And I was thrilled to find out he is now housed and getting the medical services that he needs to age here in the valley.
I think there is a lot of misinformation going around. Recently, someone told me that one of the guests of the Center was
bragging how good he had it and that he was getting steak dinners at the Center. Meals are provided there by local
nonprofits like Soroptimists and there is no steak. I don't know where these stories come from other than people who do
not have open hearts and find it easy to be critical of people in different circumstances than theirs.
I am so tired of the political and cultural divisions in our community. Please look around you and realize there are
individuals and families within your own sphere that could quite easily need the services that the Flathead Warming
Center provides.
Catherine Kraft
Sent from my iPad