Our Vision

Our vision for the Flathead Warming Center is to provide a warm, safe, low barrier facility.

You don’t have to go very far in our beautiful valley to see the need around us and those working on the front line in our community speak to that growing need.  We have listened to several different offices within KRMC, to including the emergency room. We have met with the Kalispell Police Chief, and the Flathead Sheriff. We have heard from the social worker with the Public Defender’s Office. We have listened to Western Montana Mental Health Services and Sunburst Community Services Foundation, Feed The Flathead, The Salvation Army, and others. Those working with individuals in crisis within our community state clearly, with first hand knowledge… There are individuals within our community that do not have shelter; sleeping in their vehicle, in the lobby of the Kalispell Police Station, or even outside throughout the winter. Reported barriers for individuals and families in our community who need access to shelter include: lack of availability, the need for an ID, limited facility check-in times, mandatory interviews, no return lists, treasured animals, mandatory sobriety/ chemical dependency, criminal background histories, and acute symptoms of mental illness. To those on the front line taking care of our neighbors without homes, we say, Thank you! We are listening and we will continue to listen.

Safety

Safety requires great responsibility

Criminal history does not always equal danger. Struggling with an active addiction does not always equal danger. A person’s psychosis does not always equal danger. The danger presents with dangerous behaviors. It is a person’s behavior that determines their ability to stay with us. Our low barrier shelter model promotes safety through intentional practices, policies, procedures and the open floorplan of our shelter. We have active supervision of our guests at all times. We are fair, firm, and consistent in our behavior policies and procedures and we provide ongoing communication and training of staff. In addition to our practices that promote safety, we are intentional in how we treat individuals and in activities that promote community inside the Warming Center. We work with a population that is starving to a part of something and most of our guests do not want to lose the connections we make together. An important testament to the safety of our shelter and services can be found in our high ratio of returning staff and volunteers. It all starts with relationship.

Dignity

Not just a word but a culture

We are purposeful in protecting dignity. Dignity is a driving force behind the development of all services.  Policies and procedures are designed to safeguard guests, volunteers, staff, and the facility; created with our standard of dignity. We do not just treat individuals with dignity, we allow everyone to hold their own dignity.

As we move beyond “welfare” to COMMUNITY inside the Warming Center, Dignity is preserved.  Dignity is the first step for a safe shelter.

Dignity is the first step in building community inside our center. 

Dignity… not just a word in the Flathead Warming Center, but a culture. We value our culture of Dignity in the Flathead Warming Center!