United Way of Northwest Montana is launching a program to connect homeless people in Flathead County with family, friends and assistance programs outside the valley.
Director Jodie Cross said the program was inspired in part by a similar effort previously led by Ray of Hope, a Kalispell-based nonprofit and Christian ministry that operates several shelters, among other programs, for those struggling with homelessness. housing, addiction and financial difficulties.
The goal is to help people struggling with homelessness move to a place with more connections or resources, according to Cross. That could mean family relationships, friends, or programs, such as substance abuse treatment, that could help an individual.
“Last winter we ran into a group of people who had families out of state and, in their minds, life gets better if they have more of a support system,” Cross said, “…Or there was one person who wanted rehab, either.” You know, they just need to get there.”
Northwest Montana can be an isolated area because it is not close to any major cities, Cross said. Traveling to and from the area can be expensive and in certain circumstances it may be difficult to leave due to financial constraints.
Cross recalled a conversation with a man waiting at a bus stop in Kalispell last fall. It was around Halloween and she noticed that he only wore shorts when it was cold. When she asked him if he had pants to wear, he told her that he “was leaving this god-forsaken place.”
“He came here thinking he could get help getting up. But it was cold and there was nothing up there and no one wanted to help him. So I ended up talking to him a little bit. I was on my way back to his brother’s house and had gotten a train ticket,” Cross said.
Interested homeless people must fill out an application, which allows United Way to contact the people they will be staying with to arrange their arrival. Cross said they are coordinating with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office to conduct background checks on applicants to ensure they are not evading outstanding warrants.
He said the request also grants authorization to staff to contact ICE to verify a person’s immigration status.
When it comes to travel arrangements, Cross said United Way staff will look at what will work on a case-by-case basis. If it is a minor traveling alone, she said he will most likely choose the plane ticket. But adults would get help traveling by bus or train.
Cross said United Way will not alert target communities beyond the home or program the individual will join. He said if someone has a clean record, there is no reason to contact the police where they are moving.
He said the goal of the program is to help connect people to resources, rather than simply moving homeless people to another community to repeat the same cycle.
“Shuffling around the responsibility of helping a homeless person is not what we want to do, but if we can alleviate some of the stress of the homeless population for the community by helping those who have a support system get there, then we will have gained in both sides of the coin,” Cross said.
The program is funded entirely by anonymous donations.
“Life gets chaotic…sometimes the simplest malfunction can cause the most damage. So if you sometimes go back to ground zero and start again, moving forward is much faster,” Cross said.
United Way has already helped several people move, Cross said. As recently as this week, an applicant arrived and they were able to arrange for a family member to come pick him up. He said that so far, most applicants have asked to go to other states.
As Flathead Valley residents debate how to alleviate the area’s growing homeless problem, Cross said the program is one more way to address the problem.
“People just can’t be on the streets,” Cross said. “Montana is a rugged country, it’s not safe.”
Those interested in supporting the program or requesting relocation assistance can contact United Way of Northwest Montana at 406-752-7266.
Applications will be reviewed weekly and those most in need will receive assistance first, as funds allow, officials said.
Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4433 or by email at tinman@dailyinterlake.com.
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