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Why Sparrow’s Nest had to close Whitefish facility this year

A recent article in the Daily Inter Lake has raised concerns among some readers as to why Sparrow’s Nest of NW MT is transitioning from a house in Whitefish to a newly renovated home in Kalispell. We, the Board of Directors of Sparrow’s Nest of NW MT, understand the community’s concerns and want to make it clear we are dedicated to our mission of ensuring safe, supportive housing for unaccompanied homeless high schools students in all areas of the Flathead Valley.

The opportunity for a home in Whitefish came about because of the generosity of St. Peter’s Lutheran church. In 2015, St. Peter’s approached Sparrow’s Nest with an idea to conditionally utilize their parsonage to support Sparrow’s Nest’s mission. At the time, Sparrow’s Nest had taken possession of a donated building in Kalispell and begun the process of raising funds to support its total renovation. When St. Peter’s approached us with their offer it gave us the opportunity to capitalize on their generosity and provide housing much sooner than anticipated, but also presented the challenge of funding the Whitefish operation and the Kalispell renovation. Over the past three years, through the generous support of many local businesses, organizations, individual donors and volunteers, we have managed to fund the operation of the Whitefish home and complete the renovation of the main floor of the Kalispell home.

We plan to begin housing students for the 2018-2019 school year in the Kalispell home. So, why are we transitioning out of the Whitefish house? The financial realities facing Sparrow’s Nest of operating two homes.

With the main floor of the Kalispell home complete, the only prudent choice is to transition to the Kalispell home. We will forever be grateful to St. Peter’s Lutheran church for their generosity, which has enabled us to provide long-term housing to nine students in need.

We remain committed to serving all areas throughout the Flathead Valley to the best of our ability. With an estimated unaccompanied homeless student population exceeding 300 in the Flathead Valley, Sparrow’s Nest and the Flathead Valley community will need more than one home to meet the need. Sparrow’s Nest remains committed to working with Whitefish and other Flathead Valley communities to open additional homes to address this serious issue. —Jerramy Dear-Ruel, Columbia Falls, executive director of Sparrows Nest of Northwest Montana, on behalf of the board of directors

‘Homosexuality wrong because God says it is’

Unlike what another reader said, I appreciate the fact that the Daily Interlake publishes letters on topics about morality and sexuality. And this is obviously an area that concerns many people.

As a Christian I know that homosexuality is wrong because God says it is. Homosexuality is a sin just like incest, rape and adultery. There is no hatred involved. There is no fear. There is only the acknowledgment of God being sovereign. And of God’s word being true.

A person can choose for themselves whether to believe that God exists or not. But those who say that God exists, and yet insist that homosexuality is not wrong, need to get themselves a real Bible and read it. —Jeff Van Fleet, Kalispell

Editor criticized by both sides is just doing his job

An editor who is accused of bias by both the left and the right is a very good editor. We will miss you, Frank Miele. —Mitzi Anderson, Whitefish