A Flathead Valley homeless shelter has settled its lawsuit against Kalispell for revoking its permit.
The Kalispell City Council effectively closed the Flathead Warming Center’s doors to overnight guests. Some council members argued the shelter increased homelessness and crime, degrading the surrounding neighborhood.
The shelter sued in federal court. The judge quickly gave the shelter permission to reopen while the case played out, and said the city likely violated the shelter’s property rights.
Now the city has agreed to permanently reinstate the shelter’s permit, pay for $140,000 worth of attorney fees and has issued a public apology to the shelter’s director Tonya Horn.
Horn spoke at a press conference with her attorneys.
“The Warming Center, we consider this a huge win. It has been a very challenging and difficult year,” Horn said.
As part of the settlement, the Warming Center will do periodic clean-ups in the surrounding neighborhood and set up systems for neighbors to file complaints.
The court still needs to sign off on the agreement and the city council is expected to pass a resolution reinstating the shelter’s permit.
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It’s been a week since a Kalispell homeless shelter reopened its doors for overnight stays. A judge ruled the shelter can operate while the larger case over its permit plays out. Montana Public Radio’s Aaron Bolton talked to people benefiting from a warm bed. -
A homeless shelter in Kalispell has reopened its doors after the city shut it down earlier this year. A judge ruled that the shelter can operate while the court case over the city’s actions plays out. -
Homeless people in Kalispell say they could freeze to death on the streets this winter after city officials closed a warming shelter. The shelter is suing the city to reopen before the snow flies. -
A homeless shelter in Kalispell is taking the city to court after the city council revoked its permit to operate. The shelter’s lawyers expect this to be an important case nationally.
