An emergency shelter is on track for Kalispell, after community members and organizations donated more than $60,000 within a week to bring the project to fruition.

Instrumental in the rapid progress were the Bibler Foundation, Roundup for Safety, the Oro y Plata Foundation and the Whitefish Community Foundation.

The Kalispell City Council will vote Monday on the proposal to open the shelter at the Samaritan House Administration Center, a former armory, at 1110 Second Ave. E. in Kalispell.

The Flathead COVID-19 Emergency Shelter would provide a place for those without a safe location to shelter in place during the coronavirus pandemic. The project has been shepherded by Flathead City-County Health Department and the Kalispell City Council. Gov. Steve Bullock’s stay-at-home order was issued March 26 and then extended for another two weeks, to end April 24.

“In the Flathead, we have a good population of unhoused homeless individuals who choose to camp out,” said organizer and Kalispell City Council member Kyle Waterman. “The strong encouragement is while we’re in shelter in place, that they shelter with us.”

Waterman said the emergency shelter will be able to house between 20 and 30 individuals and will also provide meals, medical and mental-health services.

The Flathead COVID-19 Emergency Shelter project has been a collaborative effort of a dozen local organizations, including Flathead Community Health Center, Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry and Kalispell Regional Healthcare, and others.

The Flathead Community Health Center, along with the health department and KRH, will operate a clinic at the emergency shelter, providing staff and support for medical screenings and treatment. The Salvation Army will provide meals for shelter guests during the week, but additional volunteer support is needed. The Flathead Warming Center will facilitate training for staff and volunteers while the Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana will connect shelter guests with community resources and housing options. Also joining the effort is the Western Montana Mental Health Center, which will provide mental health and addiction services and ASSIST will help transport patrons to essential appointments.

If a shelter guest is symptomatic or tests positive for the coronavirus, the shelter will provide isolated housing for them while they are quarantined. The majority of guests will reside in the assembly hall, while a large tent will be set up outside to serve as an outdoor mess hall. The administrative office area will be used as health clinic space and isolation areas for those with symptoms or confirmed cases of COVID-19. Guests will be encouraged to maintain social distancing of six feet or greater between people and to wear masks when appropriate, Waterman said.

Once approved by the council, the shelter will be open 24/7 during the pandemic and at least one or two staff members will be on-site, plus additional volunteers.

“It was very clear that we needed staffing to be able to provide proper oversight,” Waterman said.

A manager for the shelter was hired last Monday and staff training took place Friday.

To help keep guests entertained, Waterman said ImagineIF Libraries is providing a number of computer workstations and guests will be able to leave the premises at prearranged times to gather essentials.

“It’s humbling to work with so much of the community, who has such a big heart for this issue,” he said. “I knew that the community would rally behind this and I think we’re seeing that with the financial support.”

The shelter is seeking additional donations to meet its fundraising goal of $100,000, which will be used to cover operating costs and staffing throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Contributions can be sent to the Samaritan house at 124 Ninth Ave. W., Kalispell or can be made online at www.flatheadcovid19emergencysheltercollaborative.org.

Reporter Mackenzie Reiss may be reached at 758-4433 or mreiss@dailyinterlake.com.