HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-04-20 Public Comment - J & V Webster - Letter of support RE Pending Application from Human Resource Development Council of District, IX, Housing First VillageFrom:Valerie Webster
To:Susana Montana
Cc:Agenda
Subject:Jim & Valerie Webster, letter of support RE Pending Application from Human Resource Development Council ofDistrict, IX, Housing First Village
Date:Wednesday, November 4, 2020 12:17:33 PM
Valerie & Jim Webster
311 S. 3rd Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
Valerie Webster Jim Webster
406-579-3980 406-581-8614
Vwebster587@gmail.com Jwebster587@gmail.com
November 4, 2020
City of Bozeman
Department of Community Development
ATTN: Susana Montana
PO Box 1230
Bozeman, MT
59771-1230
RE: Pending Application from Human Resource Development Council of District IX, Housing
First Village
Dear Susana Montana,
My husband and I have lived and worked in Bozeman since 1993 – raising three, now adult,
children here. We greatly appreciate the quality of life. We are, however, concerned about
the economic challenges that those with mental health challenges, especially veterans with
PTSD, face – and the consequent increase in homeless folks sleeping in doorways on Main
Street, in parks, and other locations.
We were pleased to learn of Human Resource Development Council of District IX pending
application with The City of Bozeman for approval of their site plan and special use permit for
the development of Housing First Village, an affordable housing initiative, on North 7th Avenue
at 2007 Wheat Drive.
The priority of Housing First Village is to provide permanent supportive housing for those
experiencing chronic homelessness in our community. Housing First Village aims to do this by
leveraging a trauma-informed tiny home community to provide high quality and stable
housing to tenants while offering a myriad of housing and supportive services, aiming to
improve overall tenant health.
Housing First Village is an ambitious and unique endeavor; this type of project has never been
done in our community before. However ambitious, it is an obvious step in the right direction
to tackle our communities growing needs. As our homeless services needs and numbers
continue to rise in our community, it is paramount that we tackle this growing issue with
improving health outcomes and prioritizing community cost at the forefront, the core of the
Housing First Village development.
We would like to take this opportunity to communicate our full support of Housing First
Village as well as their application for site plan and special use permit approval.
Sincerely,
Valerie & Jim Webster
-- Valerie
The Rev. Valerie Webster
Associate Priest, All Saints in Big SkyEcumenical & Interreligious Officer, Episcopal Diocese of MT
cell (406) 579-3980