MISSOULA - Many concerned citizens gathered at Franklin Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2023, for a meeting about the Johnson Street shelter which is reopening soon.
Tensions were high and questions were attempted to be answered.
The City of Missoula recently announced the shelter will reopen for an extended period of time in September and will stay open for an undecided amount of time.
The shelter will be open 24 hours a day and will also provide one hot meal a day
The announcement drew concern and outcry from people who live near the shelter and do not want it open again in their neighborhood.
People made points about where their taxpayer dollars are going and how helpful the shelter will actually be.
Missoula Mayor Jordan Hess and other city leaders on the panel including the Poverello Center’s executive director made it clear that the reopening of this shelter is not a permanent solution.
City officials plan on holding additional public meetings, and will host an open house at the shelter on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
