Bozeman nonprofit sees increase in families that need shelter
BOZEMAN, Mont. — Bozeman nonprofit Family Promise says their waitlist for families needing shelter is growing.
“Unfortunately, we still have a waiting list of six families as of today,” said Christel Chvilicek, executive director.
Chvilicek says COVID-19 and the cost of living in Bozeman are some reasons for the uptick.
The organization works with St. James Episcopal Church to make sure families have somewhere to go while the parents find jobs and work.
Family Promise opened a second shelter location and they’re serving double the amount of families now.
“Every day we are just trying to work to find a new solution to help out where we can,” Chvilicek said.
She says 2 to 3 families reach out to them every week and that’s not slowing down.
The organization is looking into prevention. That means if they have families on the waitlist, they’re working with local partners to house them in places like hotels.
“In that meantime, while they wait for that shelter space, if we can find housing for them then maybe we can get them to skip the shelter piece altogether,” Chvilicek said.
Chvilicek says they’re also looking into doing an intake paperwork process for families that are wanting to go on the waitlist.
“That way we can start working with them immediately, instead of waiting until they get into the shelter,” Chvilicek.
Family Promise also has some funding from a program called Help Us Move In, which allows them to pay first and last months' rent on a new rental opportunity for families. They’ve been able to help two families a month through the program.
Even after the families leave the shelter, Family Promise works with them for another two years to make sure they don’t go back to experiencing homelessness.
“We kind of look at this whole-rounded approach, whether it’s prevention, shelter or sustainability,” Chvilicek said.
Bozeman resident Stephanie Hogenson has lived in the shelter since July. She says Family Promise was able to help her family get back on their feet after previously living in the Walmart parking lot.
“It’s helped out, it’s eased my scenario,” Hogenson said. “I haven’t had to worry about paying insurance or keeping my stuff in storage. They’ve been able to help with those kinds of things.”
