HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-10-25 Public Comment - M. St. Aubyn - Letter of Support_ Family Promise of Gallatin ValleyFrom:Mandy St. Aubyn
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Letter of Support: Family Promise of Gallatin Valley
Date:Monday, June 9, 2025 2:56:38 PM
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On behalf of Family Promise of Gallatin Valley, I write to urge your support for our funding
request of $120,000 from the City of Bozeman to sustain the operations of our family
emergency shelter rooms—a critical service for families in crisis in our community.Last fiscal year alone, Family Promise served over 391 families, marking a staggering
1017% increase since 2019. The need is urgent and growing. Housing costs in GallatinCounty are now 62% higher than the national average, with an average monthly rent
exceeding $2,300. In contrast, the average family we serve nets only about $2,400 permonth—leaving roughly $100 for all other necessities like food, transportation, and utilities.
This gap leaves too many parents and children on the brink—or in the reality—ofhomelessness.
The 2025 Point-in-Time Count documented the highest number of unhoused familiesin our county’s history. Without stable shelter, these families face compounding trauma,
particularly for children, who suffer lasting developmental and educational setbacks whentheir basic needs go unmet.
With support from the City of Bozeman, Family Promise will be able to meet familieswhere they are and help them move forward with dignity and hope. Emergency shelter
is not a handout—it’s a foundation from which families can rebuild their lives. Last fiscalyear, it cost just $2,816 to provide emergency housing for a child in our care. A modest
investment, but one that ensures that child has the chance to sleep in safety and wake upwith stability.
City investment in this work is not only a compassionate response—it’s a fiscallyresponsible one. By preventing homelessness from becoming chronic, we reduce strain on
public systems like healthcare, policing, and education. Most importantly, we uphold ourshared value that all children deserve a safe place to sleep.
Thank you for considering this request and for your continued partnership in ending familyhomelessness in Gallatin County. We are ready to continue doing our part—and we hope
the City of Bozeman will join us in this vital work.
Thank you,
Babies and toddlers are the population most at risk for becoming homeless. Find
out how we are impacting children and their families by clicking HERE.