Impactful Ways to Support Missoula’s Homeless Community

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Housing Advocate Network will be hosting a free event for the entire community on March 25 to focus on how Missoulians can help and encourage those who are seeking housing.

I spoke with Casey Gunning, Executive Director of the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative about the upcoming meeting.

A Deeper Understanding of Houselessness can be Found at the Meeting

“It’s a gathering of the Housing Advocate Network, and it's a place where people can come and just learn about all the different things we can do, just as everyday people to be addressing this issue of houselessness in Missoula,” began Gunning. “It's March 25^th  and it's at the Zootown Arts Community Center (also known as the Zac) at 316 West. The doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the event starts at 6:30 p.m.”

Gunning described some of the functions performed by members of the Housing Advocate Network.

Everyday People Can Make a Big Difference in Ending Houselessness

“It shows that we as everyday people with a little bit of training and support can actually be even more helpful sometimes than even a professional social worker,” he said. “Just with some dedicated time and training, one to five hours a week, can build relationships and be committed and work alongside parents with children that are really struggling and don't have housing, and to walk with them to help them get housing or people that are staying at the Johnson Street Shelter or the Poverello Center and can be really committed to just walking with people.”

Gunning Briefly Described the Housing Advocate Network

“Our organization, The Housing Advocate Network, as well as some other organizations that work on around this issue, will be there,” he said. “Mayor Davis will also be there and will give an update on the bigger strategy that the community as a whole is trying to move towards and addressing houselessness and housing.”

Gunning said Mayor Andrea Davis will also be involved in the meeting.

"There'll be a short group of stories that are told by some of the volunteers that are doing it right now, and there's a little short film even of some of those stories," he said. "There will be an update and a little conversation with Mayor Davis. And then they'll actually be a screening of a documentary that's called Americans with no address, and it really kind of gives a good, deeper understanding of, like, what, what's underneath this, you know, the causes of houselessness."

The event is free, however, donations will be accepted at the Zootown Arts Community Center.