Agencies preparing for homeless survey
Social service agencies throughout Northwest Montana are gearing up for the annual Montana Homeless Survey on Jan. 28.
People who consider themselves homeless or at risk of being homeless may fill out surveys at a number of drop-in locations.
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.
The survey is of people 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 people;
3) otherwise without a home on the evening of Jan. 28.
All answers are confidential and will not affect eligibility for any services. Only one survey should be filled out per family or household.
Families and individuals who may not already be connected with participating social service agencies are encouraged to complete surveys at drop-in sites in Kalispell: Gateway Community Center information desk; Flathead Job Service, 427 First Ave. E.; Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana at 214 Main St. and Samaritan House at 124 Ninth Ave. W. Surveys will be available at those sites from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 28.
Surveys also will be available at the Winter Warm-Up: Come in from the Cold event on Jan. 29 at Gateway Community Center in Kalispell.
Individuals who consider themselves homeless may complete surveys over the telephone by calling Help Net at 752-8181 from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Jan. 28. People outside Flathead County may call toll free: 1-800-332-8425.
Agencies participating in the survey process include Adult Protective Services, AWARE, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bigfork Food Bank, CASA for Kids, Columbia Falls Food Bank, Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana, Drivers Services, Embrace Health, Flathead Community Health Center, Flathead Food Bank, Flathead Industries, Flathead Job Service, Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic, Flathead Valley Community College, Flathead Youth Home, Head Start, Help Net-First Call for Help, ImagineIF Libraries, Lamplighter House, Mental Health Center, Neighbors in Need, North Valley Food Bank, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Bank, Nurturing Center, Office of Public Assistance, Opportunity Resources, Public Health Department, Ray of Hope, Salvation Army, Samaritan House, Sinopah House, Special Friends Advocacy Program, Summit Independent Living Center, Sunburst Mental Health, United Way, Veterans Center, Violence Free Crisis Line-Abbie Shelter, West Shore Community Assistance and Youth Dynamics.
In Lake, Lincoln and Sanders counties, surveys will be conducted through domestic violence shelters, food banks and mental health centers between Jan. 28 and Feb. 4.
In addition to the agency surveys, surveyors will go to motels and other areas where homeless people may be staying to locate as many homeless individuals and families as possible in Northwest Montana.
Volunteers are needed to help with the survey. Call the United Way Volunteer Center at 752-7266 for more information.
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.