Missoula Votes 10 to 2 to Fully Fund Johnson Street Shelter

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At the Monday night Missoula City Council meeting, by a vote of 10 to 2, the council approved the one-year funding of the Johnson Street Shelter, with just under $1 million from the city and just under $1 million from the county.

I spoke with the two councilors who opposed the funding; the first being Ward 5 City Councilor Bob Campbell, who has heard from residents in the area opposed to the shelter’s funding.

City Councilor Bob Campbell Voted Against Funding the Shelter

“I'm just going off the history of the shelter and the interactions with the neighbors there during my campaign, knocking door to door,” began Campbell. “People have had great concerns with the activity that's been taking place in the neighborhood.”

Campbell also took the Poverello Center to task for not doing more to ensure the safety of area residents.

“MRL (Montana Rail Link) Park is right next door and crimes have been happening,” he said. “I know the Missoula Police Department has been doing active patrols in that shelter for quite some time now, and this year, and they're continuing to do that, so obviously it's a concern that we're attempting to address. I think the Poverello Center could and should do more to get proactive and be out there in the neighborhood more often than they are, to truly address the needs of those living in that community.”

Ward 6 City Councilor Sandra Vasecka was the other ‘no’ vote.

City Councilor Sandra Vasecka Cast the Other No Vote

“I have been very outspoken against the shelter since my first year on council,” began Vasecka. “This is the fifth year that the shelter has been in operation in that residential neighborhood, and just as I was very frustrated with the location, I am also frustrated about the increase of crime around that area.”

Vasecka also expressed concerns about illegal activities around the nearby Jefferson Elementary School.

City Council Hears Details of Johnson Street Shelter Budget

Vasecka Reported Issues at the Jefferson Elementary School Area

“One of the folks there has to peruse the playground, go over it to make sure that there were no needles or anything in it before school,” she said. “Then, just last week, I got a note that there was a bag of needles, powder, and a pill, and then that morning, they had to clean human feces off of the playground structure at Jefferson Preschool and Elementary School there.”

Mayor Andrea Davis acknowledged the problems regarding the shelter but said the shelter is simply the best alternative to houselessness at this time.

View the Monday night City Council meeting here.