Recovery home proposal under consideration by Kalispell Planning Board
The Kalispell Planning Board will weigh a conditional use permit for a group home aimed at those in recovery from addiction at 730 First Ave. W. during its Tuesday meeting.
Absolute Ministries, a faith-based recovery organization out of Washington, is looking to open its second group home in the Flathead Valley. The organization currently operates a recovery home in Whitefish that houses four people.
According to Aaron McPherson, the Kalispell branch president, the program is “overtly faith-based,” and is aimed at men who have completed an in-patient rehab program and possess “a desire to follow Jesus.”
McPherson said the Kalispell home would be open to graduates of the three-month program in Whitefish. He described the proposal as potentially offering a longer-term transitional house to participants.
The group offers job placement and transportation services, and requires weekly drug screenings and religious study. Tuition for the program is $750 per month, according to McPherson. Participants are expected to live there for one to two years.
He said the program has placed people in jobs at local businesses, including Applied Materials, Immanuel Lutheran Communities and others.
McPherson said he recently knocked on doors in the neighborhood and told folks about the plan, and was generally pleased with the reception he received.
“We had a handful of positive encounters with neighbors, only one individual was hesitant,” McPherson said.
McPherson said he understands that some may have fears about property crime, but reiterated that only those who have successfully completed the first stage in the program and had stable employment would be moved to the potential Kalispell location.
He also noted that many sexual and violent offenders are already registered within a mile of the location. A search of the Montana Department of Justice registry found 77 such offenders.
“The bucket that the city puts our program in is ‘half way home’, or ‘group home’ which conjures a negative image in people’s minds,” said McPherson, saying that he preferred the term “recovery home.”
According to planning services director Jarod Nygren, staff is recommending that the board give their OK for the permit. If the board agrees, the city council will then vote on final approval.
ALSO ON TUESDAY’S AGENDA is a request from six of seven property owners on Fifth Street West between Fifth Avenue West and Sixth Avenue West to include the area in the Westside Parking Management Zone.
Inclusion in the zone would add a permitting requirement to park on the street. According to the planning board agenda, the zone was established in 2015 due to the demand for curbside parking around Flathead High School exceeding the curbside space available.
Finally, the agenda also includes a request for a permit to allow four multi-family residential units as part of a mixed-use development at 428 First Ave. W. in Kalispell.
Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at aknowler@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4407.