After serving 50 homeless people a night at a temporary warming center in Post Falls last winter, said Natalie Forsyth, she has no doubt of demand.

But she wants to take it one step further.

Forsyth, director of volunteer services at Ignite Hope, said the nonprofit has a bigger plan than running a warming center this year.

The organization wants to open a detox and transitional housing center for the homeless, she said.

"When we had 55 different people (dropping in), I'm going to say 80 percent of those folks had drug and alcohol problems," Forsyth said. "They self medicate because they have no hope."

There is no detox center in Kootenai County or North Idaho, she pointed out, though she is aware of the county commissioners' efforts to create a temporary hold center.

Forsyth hopes such a detox center could save taxpayers money, she said, so intoxicated or high individuals wouldn't take up beds in the hospital or the jail.

The plan will take money, she said, though she doesn't know how much.

"Right now it's unlimited," she said. "We don't have a set figure because we don't have a location."

The group doesn't have any set fundraisers yet, she said, but the Twin Lakes Village Homeowners Association has donated a check for $5,900 as "seed money."

Anyone interested can contact Forsyth at ignitehope@hotmail.com or call her at 660-4675.

Homeless individuals without proper support to wean themselves off addiction have no hope, Forsyth said.

"That's why we're here," she said. "We ignite hope."