Homeless survey reveals statistics about Northwest Montana

 362 individuals in Northwest Montana completed surveys during the annual Montana Housing Status Survey that seeks to count people who consider themselves homeless or at risk of being homeless.

         Another 179 people who were approached declined to fill out a survey form during the annual count, conducted on Jan. 23 this year.

         The survey provides information about the homeless in Northwest Montana and is linked to future funding opportunities for programs and services for those in need and creating new housing resources.

         Chris Krager, executive director of the Samaritan House homeless shelter in Kalispell, said homelessness is “always on an upward trend” in his experience. Samaritan House has 35 beds in the shelter which are “typically full all the time,” along with 21 beds in transitional housing, which are always full.

         “We use the survey numbers for grant writing, for corporate requests and to showing the magnitude of the homelessness issue we’re trying to address.” Krager said.

         The survey, conducted throughout the nation, is of persons who are 1) sleeping in a place not meant for habitation 2) staying in an emergency shelter or domestic violence shelter or in a transitional housing facility for homeless persons or 3) anyone who was otherwise without a home on the evening of Jan. 23, 2014.

         All answers are confidential and will not affect eligibility for any services. Only one survey should be filled out per family or household.

         The survey results will also assist the Flathead Homeless Interagency Resource Education (HIRE), a coalition of public and private non-profit agencies formed to coordinate services to homeless people in Northwest Montana.

         Agencies in Northwest Montana participated in conducting the survey, which covered Flathead, Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties.  Of the total surveyed, 294 people were in Flathead County, 29 from Lincoln County, 19 in Lake County and one in Sanders County.

            Agencies participating in the survey process include Abbie Shelter

Community Action Partnership, Community Health Center, Family Planning, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic, FVCC Americorps, Flathead Youth Home, Head Start, Help Net, Job Services, Lamplighter House, Libby Food Pantry, Mental Health Centers, New Horizons Youth Ranch, NW MT Veterans Food Pantry, Offices of Public Assistance, Ray of Hope, Salvation Army, Samaritan House, School Dist 5 & 50 Homeless Program, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center, Tribal Social Services, Troy Food Pantry and the Veteran’s Center.

            In addition to the agency surveys, a number of surveyors went to motels and other areas where homeless people might be staying to locate as many homeless individuals and families as possible in Northwest Montana.

         Project Homeless Connect, which provides resources and services for individuals, families and veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, is planned for June 19 and 20 this year.

         A variety of local agencies that serve the homeless population participate in the Project Homeless Connect, a collaborative community event sponsored by the Project Homeless Connect Committee and coordinated by Samaritan House, Community Action Partnership and the United Way Volunteer Center.

          For more information, call the United Way at 752-7266 in the greater Kalispell area or toll-free at 1-888-720-7266 outside the local calling area.