HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-02-19 Public Comment - N. Wilkinson - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:agenda@bozeman.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Thank you for your public comment.
Date:Saturday, November 02, 2019 10:20:48 PM
A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:Public Comment Form
Date & Time:11/02/2019 10:20 PM
Response #:312
Submitter ID:21620
IP address:2600:6c67:5180:48c8:fde1:8ce4:7fb2:47bd
Time to complete:31 min. , 39 sec.
Survey Details
Page 1
Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options.
Public comment may also be given at any public meeting.
Email:
agenda@bozeman.net
Mail to:
Attn: City Commission
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 59771
In-person delivery to:
Attn: City Commission
City Clerk's Office
City Hall, Suite 202
121 N. Rouse Ave.
Bozeman, MT
First Name Natalie
Last Name Wilkinson
Email Address nataliewilkinson7@gmail.com
Phone Number 4065706693
Comments
I write to express my strong support for the HRDC overflow shelter in the Figgins neighborhood. If Bozeman
is to live up to its self-proclaimed standards of diversity and inclusion, then we need to stand support in
providing overflow emergency housing to women and children.
I am a 22 year old woman, and was born and raised in Bozeman in the southside Bon Ton neighborhood.
Now, I work part time managing volunteers at Fork & Spoon, also an HRDC facility, that I'm proud to say is
the only pay-what-you-can restaurant in Montana, and a rare business model across the country. As a pay-
what-you-can restaurant, we provide homegrown, high-quality food in an accessible and dignified way to
anyone looking to be nourished in Bozeman.
My experience working with the vulnerable community of Bozeman has proved to me that our neighbors
experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity are not dangerous or scary, but people with rich lives who
are experiencing difficult situations, often out of their control. Some face violence at home and need
shelter, some struggle with addiction and are seeking recovery, and some struggle with health issues that
prevent them from holding down a job. If they struggle with addiction, it is no more than anyone I see
struggling with alcoholism at literally any one of Bozeman's swanky downtown bars. And needless to say,
most sexual violence, addiction, and mental health issues happen right in the safety of people's homes, no
matter who resides in the neighborhood.
I am not sure about what Bozeman's future holds. Let's not forget that in 2009 a man died on a cold night
because he lacked access to warm shelter. The affordable housing crisis in Bozeman has received a lot of
coverage recently, and on the frontlines of this crisis are the people who use emergency shelter. I believe
every member of the Bozeman community deserves access to a warm and safe place to spend the night,
and in order to make this possible, we need the temporary HRDC overflow shelter.
If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt)
along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure
receipt of all information.
Thank you,
City Of Bozeman
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