Johnson Street Temporary Emergency Shelter Open House: Wednesday, Sept. 6

Hello Southgate Triangle neighbors,

The City of Missoula and our partners Invite you to an open house at the Johnson Street Temporary Emergency Shelter at 1919 North Ave. W. on Wednesday, Sept. 6,  from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This will be a two-hour gathering with representatives from the City of Missoula, the Poverello Center and Black Knight Security Services available to visit one-on-one and answer questions about the reopening of the shelter in mid-September. No formal presentation will be made. Please feel free to stop by at any time.

This year, the City of Missoula, Missoula County, and the Poverello Center are again partnering to provide an emergency shelter program in the same location at 1919 North Ave. W. The shelter is funded to be open from September 2023 through August 2024. The City and partners are working to determine a long-term shelter solution for the community. The plan and possible location for this has yet to be determined.

Houselessness continues to be a pressing issue for members of the Missoula community.  Our housing crisis, combined with a short supply of shelter space and rising costs of housing, has led the City of Missoula and Missoula County to act.

As you likely know, in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the City of Missoula established an expanded Emergency Winter Shelter Program at the Johnson Street Temporary Emergency Shelter with support from Missoula County. This temporary shelter served up to 165 people each night during the winter months, initially in response to the pandemic. It preserved hundreds of lives of individuals who otherwise may have frozen to death in bitter temperatures.

The City of Missoula recognizes that the shelter's presence brings successes and challenges for the community. The City appreciates your understanding as we continue the program for another year and move toward future permanent solutions. We encourage neighbors to reach out to City of Missoula and Poverello representatives any time with questions.

Please visit https://www.engagemissoula.com/safe-shelter for Information and online comments. And please join us at the open house on Wednesday, Sept. 6, to share your opinions and ask questions about the Johnson Street Temporary Emergency Shelter.