Dennis and Staci Chilcote:

Q. What is your biggest need during the holidays and do your families receive gifts, etc.? How can we help?

A. Our community is so generous during the holidays. We also have several local churches that provide gifts, food etc. for our children and adults. Huge kudos to Selkirk Association of Realtors, Methodist Church, Lutheran Church and Holy Spirit Episcopal Church. We also receive handmade quilted stockings for all residents from a local group of breast cancer survivors called Bosom Buddies. Paul and Sue Graves delivered sacks full last week so we will fill them for all the clients. Valley Vista in Sandpoint has always donated presents and food to us during the holidays and this year is no different. They usually pick one family to stock their shelves of food before Thanksgiving, and then presents to all at Christmas.

If you want to help check out our website and Facebook accounts for information on a fundraiser we participate in every year that starts on Dec. 10. All non-profits in the state of Idaho are eligible and it’s called “Avenues For Hope” The wonderful thing about this event is that donations have the ability to be matched by the state. Since we were unable to hold our main fundraiser “Little Black Dress” this year, we are counting on participation to be high for this event. For information on the event, go to our Facebook page @BonnerHomelessTransitions, our website at bonnerhomelesstransition.org or call 208-265-2952 for more information. After Thanksgiving a marketing campaign will begin with lots of information available on line and in the Daily Bee.

Edward Stallings, Athol

Q. I heard that the Sandpoint area does not have an emergency shelter for the homeless. I am finding this hard to believe, so thought I would go to the source. Thank you

A. I am sorry to tell you that you heard correctly, Edward. Sandpoint has a shelter for men called Bonner Gospel Mission, but I don’t know if it’s that temporary of a situation. There is no emergency or otherwise shelter for single women or families in Bonner County. This time of year is difficult because of weather and now COVID-19 with people opening their homes or churches taking people in temporarily.

The state of Idaho has four homeless representatives with one located in Coeur d’Alene. Her name is Becca and she is with St. Vincent de Paul. You can call 208-416-4704 to contact Becca. I continue to receive calls weekly for people seeking shelter and hopefully someday Bonner and Boundary counties will be able to accommodate single men, woman and families with a warm and safe emergency shelter. As of today, there is no shelter to do this.

Mary Warner, Sandpoint

Q. I have lived in the North Idaho area off and on for 50 years, and I still to this day do not know exactly what you do. Could you briefly describe to me since you say you are not a shelter?

A. Thanks Mary. I know it does get confusing, but we have been in the area since 1991 and we were known as Bonner County Homeless Task Force and opened our first shelter in in 1994. We operated two transitional housing programs, Blue Haven in Sandpoint and Trestle Creek in Hope. At one time we also had an emergency shelter for domestic violence, and also a warming shelter, but both were closed due to lack of funding. Today we continue to operate Blue Haven as a transitional program and have BCHA managing our Trestle Creek property as low income rentals. Our transitional program allows clients to “get on their feet” as we provide fully furnished housing, case management, crisis intervention and resources that will help them food, clothing and access to medical and dental services. 65% of our clients served are children living with one, or both parents. Our residents can stay up to 24 months depending on their needs, and now that stay also depends on finding safe affordable housing. Our mission is helping homeless families and individuals achieve self-sufficiency and increase the quality of their lives and move on to permanent housing. I hope that explains a little bit about what we do, and for more information please feel free to call me at any time at 208-265-2952, or if you are interested in receiving a newsletter from us, please call or email me at joannebarlow09@gmail.com.