Low turnout at public hearing intended for low-income residents

A handful of representatives from local nonprofits attended a public hearing on Wednesday intended to gather input from low-income city and county residents.  

While no low-income community members spoke, the 1 p.m. hearing in Kalispell City Hall was organized to “obtain the views of community residents, especially low/moderate income residents” on priorities for community development. Kalispell Community Development Manager Nelson Loring headed up the Dec. 4 gathering. 

Six people attended and one appeared via Zoom. Asked about the turnout and whether the time of day might curtail participation, Loring said that the annual meeting has historically been held at that time and was deemed the best time to reach members of the public. 

The sought after community input was intended to help inform local government applications to the Community Development Block Grant and the Montana Home Investment Partnership Program Grant. The funds are awarded to local governments to help construct and preserve affordable housing, community planning, improve public infrastructure, revitalize economies and reduce homelessness.  

“These are flexible grants, programs that provide communities with resources to address a wide range of unique housing and community development needs,” Loring said. 

The money comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and distributed by the Montana Department of Commerce.  

After Congress passed the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, it was later amended in 1981 to make cities with a population under 50,000 eligible.  

Loring said the program currently funds projects at the Flathead Youth Home, Flathead Valley Community College, the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust and is funding Americans with Disabilities Act improvements at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.  

The Samaritan House recently received $30,000 through the program, according to Executive Director Chris Krager. The facility on Ninth Avenue West offers nightly shelter for around 45 people, has 19 longer-term transitional housing units and 32 low-income permanent apartments.  

The shelter is undergoing a large expansion, doubling its capacity of around 95 people. The expansion includes 16 apartments for veterans, 18 two- to three-bedroom apartments for families (both income based) and a larger cafeteria and cold weather overflow shelter.  

Krager said that the shelter is at 99% capacity almost every night.  

“The need is not going away,” he said.  

Carmen Cuthbertson, a Flathead County Library trustee and Member of the Montana State Library Commission, spoke at the hearing to push for help in relocating the Kalispell branch.  

The Kalispell building has outdated HVAC systems and a leaky basement, Cuthbertson said.  

“It is high time that we find a new place to move the library to.” she said, adding that space frequently runs out when families bring their children to story time.  

Before assuming his current position in October, Loring was the Whitefish city planner. He directed those interested in the programs to contact him, Kalispell City Council or Flathead County.  

Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.