HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-19 Public Comment - S. Callow - HRDC Warming Center SiteFrom:Sara Callow
To:Sarah Rosenberg
Cc:Agenda
Subject:Support for overflow shelter
Date:Monday, November 04, 2019 8:05:05 PM
Dear Bozeman City Commissioners,
I am writing to voice my support for the HRDC overflow shelter in the Figgins neighborhood. I believe that many
of the objections voiced by my fellow citizens are based in misconceptions and misinformation and that as a
community, we must support the shelter.
I have been following this issue in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle and in the online public comments and I believe
there are many misconceptions which are clouding the views of otherwise compassionate citizens. Many of those
commenting in opposition to the project mention children walking to or from school. Others mention the police call
volume from the men’s overflow shelter. It seems that many people are not aware that this shelter will only house
women and children. Additionally, the women and children will only be present from 7pm until 7am, and only in
the winter. As I draft this email, it is 7:16pm on November 4th. I live in reasonable proximity to the proposed
shelter location and very close to Sacajawea Middle School. There are no children walking home right now. It is
dark and cold by this time, and will be even on our nicer winter days. Dog walking traffic has decreased to basically
nothing. I sit by my front window and haven’t seen anyone pass by in the last 30 minutes or so. In the mornings, I
have a middle school student who walks to Sacajawea for early choir rehearsal once a week, and even he does not
need to depart the house until after 7am. In these winter months, there aren’t many people out walking around
between 7pm and 7am, especially young children. I think the fears related to the elementary and middle school set
are coming from some misinformation. Additionally, in the winter, I barely have any ability to conceive what my
nearest neighbors are up to. Come summer, I will hear their music, notice the sounds of children playing in the
backyard, and even share a “hello” across the fence. For now, however, my windows are closed and I wouldn’t
notice a backyard activity unless it escalated well beyond what I’d imagine a smoke break of a few tired mothers
might entail. Again, it is winter, and the residents have limited hours at the shelter. I have a hard time imagining
how their presence will be so disruptive or dangerous.
I urge my fellow citizens to look within themselves and find the strength of compassion that is required of those in
community. “There, but for the grace of God, go I,” I heard many times growing up from my mother, who dedicated
9 years of her life to her faith, in service as a Catholic nun. I am so grateful for the fireplace in my living room on
these winter nights, the down comforter I snuggle into as I head to bed, and the slow awakening that I quietly
witness as I rouse my growing 14 year old from a deep sleep many mornings. What would it be like to share my
space with many other women and children? And what would it be like if there was no space to share and I feared I
couldn’t provide the basic necessity of a warm night’s sleep for my precious children. Being in community with
others is about more than being neighbors or even tolerating others. It is about welcoming strangers and providing
the grace of compassion and understanding. I am grateful for my blessings, and for my mother who taught me how
to count them.
There may be logical concerns that those living directly next to the shelter should see addressed. But as I read
responses from the majority of people writing in, I think we could all benefit from stepping back to think logically
about the reality of the situation. I believe we can open our hearts and remember that any one of us can find
ourselves in need of help from our community. We can recognize that compassion is the answer in this situation.
Thank you,
Sara Callow
609 Oxford Drive
Bozeman, MT 59715
Sent from my iPhone