Shelter for homeless teens planned in Whitefish

A shelter for homeless high school students is poised to open in Whitefish this winter, barring any hold ups in the city’s permit process.

St. Peter Lutheran Church has agreed to let Sparrow’s Nest Northwest Montana (formerly the Flathead Homeless Youth Committee) use a home the church owns on Colorado Avenue. The house will provide up to five Flathead teenagers a safe place to sleep at night while attending school.

“[The church] agreed to let us use the home as long as we pay the utilities and maintain the house,” said Sparrow’s Nest board member Laura Kochis. “They stepped forward with this very generous offer. It’s a real blessing, a gift from God.”

Sparrow’s Nest is a community-driven effort to provide temporary shelter for teens under 18. Earlier this year, Kalispell residents Brian and Victoria Tanko donated a large building in Kalispell for the organization to use for its first shelter. Major renovation is still needed on that property and it likely won’t open until next year, Kochis explained.

The Whitefish shelter, however, could open by the end of December if a conditional use permit is approved. The Whitefish Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposal Thursday, Nov. 19. City Council will take final action on Dec. 7.

The home at 200 Colorado Ave., will be open to homeless high school students in the Flathead.

“They have to be in school full time and not have a responsible guardian providing them shelter,” Kochis said.

The teens will be under 24-hour professional supervision and can stay at the home as long as they need shelter until they graduate high school.

Kochis says the organization follows a stringent vetting process in deciding which teens can live at the home.

“I know some people are leery of this,” she said.

“But these kids will be monitored, have strict curfews, and will undergo drug testing. Any infractions and they’re out.”

The on-site supervisor will be professionally trained, she added.

“We just posted a job opening for a program director and hope to have it filled by December,” she said.

Kochis says most residents would be shocked to learn how many teens in the Flathead are classified as homeless.

“The schools can sometimes help them with supplies, clothing and food, but no one can offer shelter for them at night,” she said.

According to a recent study conducted by Flathead Homelessness Interagency Resource and Education, approximately 30 percent of the homeless population in Flathead County is under the age of 18.

In mid 2013, the study reveals, the count of homeless youth enrolled in local schools was 268, including 79 in Columbia Falls 79 and 10 in Whitefish.

“As a result, homeless teens are committing suicide, prostituting themselves for a place to sleep, losing frostbitten toes during below zero weather and ‘couch surfing’ or sleeping in abandoned buildings every night,” the study concluded.

The Sparrow’s Nest states its mission is to enable these homeless students to graduate from high school in a safe environment, and ultimately become productive members of their community.

Kochis says the group is in need of financial donations to fund the operation. It is estimated that $250,000 per year is needed to cover operations at each shelter. United Way is assisting the nonprofit as a financial agent.

The group’s major fundraiser “When the Night Comes” is planned for Dec. 12 when Sparrow’s Nest Board of Directors and Advisory Board members will be “sleeping out” at the Gateway Community Center parking lot in Kalispell from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sponsors are needed for the event. People interested in joining the event or donating should call 406-309-5196 or email sparrowsnestnwmt@gmail.com