Flathead Warming Center heads into upcoming season with policy change

As the Flathead Warming Center prepares to kick off its fifth season, officials are establishing new policies they say will increase accountability for patrons.

“I think it's a natural step in the process of our organization being fairly new,” said Executive Director Tonya Horn. “We are 100% community funded and supported and I think that our community wants accountability, and we agree.”

The Kalispell-based center reopens for overnight shelter services on Tuesday, Oct. 10 — to coincide with world homeless day — from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. nightly.

The policy shift means new requirements for patrons planning on an extended stay at the overnight shelter. That includes a mandatory one-on-one meeting with a social worker and peer support specialist for every seven nights of shelter aimed at developing a plan out of homelessness.

The point of the plan, which the shelter calls a “roadmap,” is to ensure that clients are consistently making efforts to promote better life outcomes.

While the concept is new, Horn says that it will offer direction, hope and encouragement to homeless people who use the shelter.

Other aspects of the warming center are staying the same. This includes providing safe shelter; maintaining a shelter that is low-barrier, but with high expectations; ensuring that everyone gets an opportunity for shelter; bringing in community services; and encouraging people to connect with resources and support systems.

The Flathead County commissioners in January issued a letter arguing that facilities like the Flathead Warming Center are a reason for the increase in the valley’s homeless population.

“When a low-barrier shelter opened in our community, we saw a dramatic increase in homeless individuals. Using social media and smartphones, these wanderers are well-networked and eager to share that Kalispell has “services” to serve their lifestyle. Make no mistake, it is a lifestyle choice for some,” the commissioners wrote.

Warming center officials disagree.

“Over 90% of our guests have lived in the Flathead for over a year. We see no evidence of individuals being ‘networked’ or shipped to the warming center,” Horn said.

Horn argued that a low-barrier shelter does not mean low standards. The shelter has high expectations for patrons, she said.

The Flathead Warming Center first opened its doors on Dec. 23, 2019. The following winter, the center purchased 889 N. Meridian Road for its permanent location. The facility was remodeled in summer of 2021. The following year, the center began offering daytime services throughout the winter months.

Linking people to resources inside the shelter is effective, Horn said, which is why the shelter offers services to those facing homelessness, from haircuts to on-site medical care.

“We all need to understand that when we are bringing people inside to warmth, safety and structure, we’re all safer and we’re all stronger,” Horn said. “The entire community is safer and stronger.”

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@daiyinterlake.com or 758-4459.