Count helps shelter in assessing local needs

A total of 362 people in Northwest Montana completed surveys Jan. 23 during the annual Montana Housing Status Survey that seeks to count people who consider themselves homeless or at risk of being homeless.

Out of that total, 294 people were in Flathead County, 29 from Lincoln County, 19 in Lake County and one in Sanders County.

Another 179 people who were approached declined to fill out surveys.

The survey provides information about the homeless in Northwest Montana and is linked to future funding opportunities for programs and services.

Chris Krager, executive director of the Samaritan House homeless shelter in Kalispell, said homelessness is “always on an upward trend.” 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 results will also assist the Flathead Homeless Interagency Resource Education, a coalition of public and private nonprofit agencies formed to coordinate services to homeless people 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 June 19 and 20 this year.