Below is a statement from Samaritan House in Kalispell regarding the murder of Scott Bryan on Sunday, June 25th.

“We are all devastated by the brutal murder of Scott Bryan. On Sunday, he was asleep until two young, but adult men, decided to beat him, film it, and post his murder online. This was an unprovoked attack on a person in crisis who didn’t fight back. We wish we would have had the chance to know Scott better and help him get back on his feet.

 

Trauma like this reverberates. We feel for his family. We feel for the staff at Appleway Conoco gas station and the first responders who had to see and experience the scene. We feel for our guests who fear this will happen to them. And we feel for the volunteers and staff at our organizations as they process this tragedy and find a way to move forward.

 

We’ve never had violent acts like this toward our homeless community until recently. The increased rhetoric by some community leaders and the barrage of aggressive social media comments dehumanize people who live here. It doesn’t take long for verbal assaults to turn physical.

 

No one type of person is homeless. Kids age out of foster care. People flee from domestic violence. People are priced out of their homes. Mental Health services in this area are at an all-time low in the valley. Hotels and other long-term affordable housing scenarios have closed, and people have nowhere to go.

 

Our community has only one year-round low-barrier shelter doing everything possible to keep people safe and sheltered. We know that more services and beds are needed. Samaritan House is building 18 affordable two and three-bedroom apartments, 15 apartments dedicated to veterans, expanding shelter beds, and adding a cold weather overflow shelter. This will help, but it will take time.

 

We urge everyone to do some soul-searching and find care and compassion for our neighbors. We must come together to give people the support they need and help Kalispell be a safer community – for everyone.”

Great Fish Community Challenge 2022

 There's 10 days left in the Great Fish Community Challenge brought to you by Whitefish Community Foundation. We set a goal for ourselves to reach 20k and our community showed up. Then we set another goal for 40k, and you guys blew us out of the water! 

Let's get to $60,000 and beyond! Your donation to Samaritan House during the Great Fish Community Challenge goes directly towards supporting our mission and providing our homeless community with resources they need to build a new foundation in their lives. 

These resources look like stability, shelter, nutrient dense meals, clothing, hygienic access and resources, and case management. These resources together help create a community for our clients to thrive and step back into life feeling supported and successful. Click the picture below to be directed to our portal fund to make a donation today!

Immediate Assistance Available

Samaritan House has made space immediately available to accommodate the need for shelter as it pertains to recent developments in the sale of the Fairbridge Inn.  People in need of assistance can get the full compliment of services offered by Samaritan House including shelter, case management, kitchen/cafeteria and other co-located outreach efforts by other local organizations.  It is our wish, as well as the wishes of many in the Flathead, that no one sleeps outside.  

 

Additionally,  Samaritan House plans for campus growth to accommodate needs in the community. Increasing shelter capability, addressing the void of transitional housing and providing for another affordable housing option. This plan that will begin construction in 2023 and require extensive fundraising efforts to serve more individuals. In recent years, and through the pandemic demand for services has increased.    

 

For more information, to connect those in need or to donate contact: 

 

Samaritan House

124 9^th Ave W

Kalispell MT 59901

Ph 406-257-5801

Email:  info@samaritanhousemt.com

Website:  www.samaritanhousemt.com

Blog:  www.homelessintheflathead.com

 

Get Your Raffle Tickets!

 

Samaritan House's 25th Birthday and Volunteer Appreciation BBQ

 

Hypothermia

It is February in the Flathead Valley and until lately winter has not been nearly as severe as it could be. It’s easy to actually dismiss things as mild and we can go about our day because the snow isn’t piled up. That is a fair assessment. But what if you have to live in the elements?

Did you know it doesn’t have to be brutally cold to experience hypothermia? If a person suffers ongoing exposure to even 70 degrees without thermal protection and food or nutrients, he or she can become hypothermic. Honestly, some of the most dangerous environmental situations occur in temperate climates when the temperature drops suddenly. 

It is essential to try and recognize early symptoms of hypothermia is. There are three stages of hypothermia related to the body’s core temperature:

• Mild hypothermia, 90°–95°. This is when heart and respiratory rates increase. Other indicators are, hyperventilation, difficulty walking, slurred speech, impaired judgment, pronounced shivering, and frequent urination.

• Moderate hypothermia, 82°–90°. During this stage, a person experiences a lowered pulse, shallow breathing and slowed respiratory rate, slowed reflexes, shivering stops, confusion and disorientation, common cardiac arrhythmias, and paradoxical undressing.

• Severe hypothermia, less than 82°. The most advanced stage is evidenced by hypotension, slow pulse, pulmonary edema, coma, ventricular arrhythmias (including ventricular fibrillation), and possible asystole or “flat line” EKG.

At the shelter, cold weather contingency plans are in place and we hope to get everyone in from the cold that needs it. 

Please remember those who either live in the elements or spend great portions of their days outdoors in the winter. We welcome donations and right now warm hats, coats and socks can go a long way in helping save lives.

In Honor of Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month we wanted to share some statistics and facts to our community surrounding homelessness and racial disparities.

Did you know that most minority groups, especially Black Americans and Indigenous People, experience homelessness at higher rates than any other race due to long standing historical and structural racism?

The most evident disparity can be found among Black Americans who make up almost 13 percent of the general population but account for almost 40 percent of individuals experiencing homelessness in our country. Black Americans also make up more than 50 percent of homeless families with children. (These statistics can be found through endhomelessness.org for further research)

You may ask yourself...what causes would create such significant disparities in our country?

There are several actually: lack of socioeconomic opportunities, rental housing discrimination, incarceration, and access to quality health care.

All create a cycle for our Black American homeless population to remain chronically homeless and vulnerable.

Knowledge is power and by knowing these statistics we as a country can do better to serve the entire vulnerable population with grace and care.