HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-19 Public Comment - E. Mason - Men's Recovery House-2From:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Men"s recovery house
Date:Tuesday, October 15, 2019 4:26:46 PM
please process as public comment
Chris Mehl
Bozeman Deputy Mayor
cmehl@bozeman.net
406.581.4992
________________________________________
From: Emily Mason [emilykmason@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 3:46 PM
To: Chris Mehl
Subject: Re: Men's recovery house
Hi Mr. Mehl,
Two neighbor's made respective calls someone at HRDC and each wrote up notes from their conversations. It's most
unsettling that there seems to be an attempt to do this quickly so there isn't time for the public to respond. HRDC
does not seem to be following the protocol. I do hope someone from the city will attend the meeting.
1. According to HRDC, the proposed warming site on Westridge will process on average 10-15 people per night
from Nov to March with a max capacity of 20 people. They need the house to handle overflow from other locations.
The homeless will be transported from HRDC headquarters each day. The focus will be on families and single
women, but men are not excluded. This is not a home reserved only for women and children. In terms of usage at
the low end (10 per night), this house could process 1500 people from Nov - March. On the high end 3000. Maybe
some would be long-term occupants but it sounds like its more of a mixed bag.
2. They have applied for a special use permit with the city which they hope to get by Nov 1. A permit is required
because the home is zoned R1. They do not have a permit yet.
3. HRDC does not deny housing for people with a criminal history. There is NO application process or qualification
process to stay the night. Simply show up.
4. Adam confirmed that more than likely, people staying in the house would have criminal records. He can't say for
sure how many on average, but this is common with the homeless. At their men's shelter, police where called out on
average 2 times per week this year. He didn't have details on those calls. Adam also confirmed that they have had
issues with both drugs and alcohol being present at the shelters.
5. HRDC discourages people from leaving the house at night, but they can't stop them from doing so. The proposed
hours are 7pm - 7am. Theoretically, a person could show up, get a little sleep then walk out the door. After a nights
stay, anyone occupying the house is free to leave, which means that they would more than likely walk through
Figgins on their way towards main and other areas North. This could conflict with the existing school schedule for
walkers, bikers who attend Morning Star and Sac.
6. The house in withing 100yrds of school property and the main crosswalk for Morning Star School and sac. I will
mention again that HRDC offers "low barrier" housing and DOES NOT perform background checks. This means
that drug offenders, criminals, sexual predators, etc would all be welcome to stay at the residence.
7. The house would be staffed from 7pm - 7am. I assume these are HRDC volunteers or employees.
8. Volunteers and HRDC employees would need parking.
Second Neighbors Notes:
Hi I talked with Adam from HDRC he said they had to fill out a special permit from the city and are waiting to get it
approved. I also asked him why there was no posting on the property? I asked him what the criteria was for
posting? He seemed unsure as I was. He said that is what the informational meeting is tonight for the public to ask
questions. He also said they didn’t post it because they didn’t want homeless people just showing up? hmmmm I
also said you already bought the house and did not check it out first. He said they let people within 200 feet know.
I said what will you do if this does not go through and he said 20 people will be without a place to sleep. I agreed
that would be sad but in order to make decisions in the city you need to look at the greater good of the community of
the neighborhoods, schools, and kids around it. They do not know what it will be in the off season. It is not
affiliated with family promise. They do not know if crime increased around Christ the king during the last 2 years
of hosting it. I think we need to talk to a city official involved in this? I Do you have an email and or a phone
number by chance?
Emily K. Mason
"FAILURE IS FUEL. AND FUEL IS POWER."
- Abby Wambach, American retired soccer player, coach, two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women's
World Cup champion