Understanding Missoula's Initiative To Reduce Shelter Occupancy

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Mayor Andrea Davis came into the KGVO studio for Friday’s City Talk episode of Talk Back with a specific mission: to clarify the city’s effort to end homelessness through what is called a ‘housing sprint’.

"This Housing Sprint is where we will look to decrease the occupancy of the shelter by decreasing the number of beds available by approximately 30 per month, and 30 times 5 is approximately 180, which is more than are currently in the shelter," began Mayor Davis. "Right now, we understand there are approximately 125 folks on average staying in the shelter."

Mayor Davis to Use the Housing Sprint to Help the Homeless at the Shelter

Davis said the city will not simply close the (Johnson Street) shelter without attempting to provide other options.

“We’re not going to just close the shelter and say ‘good luck, folks’,” she said. “We realize that we have a responsibility here to do the best we can to take the most compassionate approach, so we’re applying this housing sprint and we’re saying ‘let’s work with folks to find different solutions and their most positive outcomes. We’re connecting people with permanent housing solutions. We are helping people reunite with family and friends. We are helping people connect with mental health treatment and recovery centers and other creative solutions.”

The City Needs About $2,000 Per Person for the Program

Davis provided specific dollar amounts needed to assist those in the housing sprint program.

“We estimated that we needed about $2,000 per person to get over the barriers,” she said. "Some of those include people who have utility payments in arrears, they owe a landlord, or they don’t have enough money for rent or a security deposit. These things often cause people to ‘eddy out’ of the system, quite frankly. Many people are working or have access to resources such as Social Security disability. They don’t have the ability by themselves to get over a number of different barriers.”

Davis said the Housing Sprint is the City's Full Court Press for Homelessness

Davis connected the housing sprint to the city’s plan to mitigate homelessness.

“So, what we’re doing with this housing sprint is this,” she said. “The City of Missoula is taking our homeless program staff, and we’re focusing all our attention on this effort. Working with community partners one-on-one with people in the shelter to find these solutions. We’re raising $400,000 to connect people with these different positive outcomes, and we’re about halfway there as of this morning.