The Samaritan House in Kalispell temporarily ceased operations at its emergency shelter earlier this month to address much-needed renovations.  

When Executive Director Cassidy Kipp took the reins of the homeless shelter and transitional living facility in March, she noticed a long list of needed repairs to the organization's emergency shelter. The aging boiler system kept the building at a sweltering 80 degrees throughout the winter while extensive leaks had left bathrooms in disrepair. The facility has operated without a functioning elevator for more than a year, limiting accessibility for residents with disabilities.  

"This place is used hard. It's used really hard. So just to take this moment during the warm season and get things up to snuff ... We're very fortunate to have this opportunity," Kipp said.   

The shelter operates year-round and can accommodate about 30 individuals, although that number varies depending on how many of its family units are occupied, Kipp said. Guests must pass a background check and participate in case management services to help them move into the facility's transitional housing program and ultimately permanent housing.  

Initially, the shelter reduced capacity by half, housing only 16 people during the renovations. But Kipp said accommodating guests while construction crews worked proved challenging.  

"What we realized is that's going to prolong the process ... And it means we have contractors here for a longer period of time," Kipp said. 

On July 17, the shelter closed completely to quicken the construction timeline, according to Kipp.  

Of the 16 that were being housed in the shelter, half moved into Samaritan House-owned rental apartments. Staff helped some guests reunite with their families, and three people moved into housing provided by nonprofit A Ray of Hope. One person turned down an apartment that the Samaritan House offered them and another individual's plans were unable to be verified, according to Kipp.  

All of the families residing in the shelter were moved to transitional housing apartments, she added.  

"We timed it to where we had units available to make it as seamless as possible, and to keep that impact as low as possible," Kipp said.  

THE PROJECT is being funded by $750,000 awarded through the Emergency Shelter Facility Grant Program. The money was originally intended for housing being built at the old Army Reserve Armory, but Kipp decided improvements to the existing shelter were more pressing.  

The grant also requires a dollar-for-dollar match, which Kipp said has been supported greatly through community donations. The Samaritan House has raised $660,000 so far and has received donated supplies from local businesses. 

"We're really just taking this time to get everything up into good running order so that we've got another 30 years ahead of us," Kipp said. 

Kipp hopes that construction will wrap up in October, although it is too early to know specifically when, she said.  

October is also when the Flathead Warming Center typically reopens for overnight stays. The homeless shelter's executive director, Tonya Horn, said that she is in close communication with the Samaritan House.  

"No one can do this work alone," she said.  

The Samaritan House continues to provide services to the 45 people that live on its campus. Transitional apartments, permanent housing and supportive housing programs remain operational.  

Individuals experiencing homelessness should still contact the Samaritan House, the nonprofit’s leaders said.  

The renovations come amid the Samaritan House's extensive expansion project.  

The project is expected to nearly double the facility's capacity, allowing it to serve 85 more people. The Samaritan House will see income-based two- and three-bedroom apartments, housing for homeless veterans and overflow for the shelter.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.