Johnson Street Improvements

The City of Missoula is encouraging people sheltering outdoors to use emergency shelters operating in the community. In support of this effort, we are partnering with the Poverello Center to make reasonable improvements to the Johnson Street Shelter that will enhance services and decrease negative impacts on the immediate neighbors.                                      

We believe these improvements will lead to more people accessing shelter services and that this is an important step in addressing the impacts of people sheltering in public spaces across our community. 

Improvements will include adding more storage at the shelter for guests’ belongings. When you are living in shelter or outdoors, you must carry all your personal cherished items, as well as items necessary for survival, on you always. This is a difficult endeavor and often results in items being left, stolen, or stored in public spaces. Having available storage for people will reduce conflicts. 

Improvements will also include the removal of failing awnings and the replacement of the main entrance doors, increasing a sense of safety and well-being for those accessing shelter.  

Lastly, fencing and landscaping are being expanded to create a more welcoming environment, encouraging shelter guests to spend more time at the shelter instead of on private property or in adjacent neighborhoods.  

The Johnson Street shelter is a temporary solution to ensure we have safe and adequate shelter while we work towards a larger strategy to reduce houselessness in our community. With this in mind, we’ll be taking steps to ensure improvements are cost effective and can be moved when the shelter is no longer located at this site.  

Additional useful information can be found on our Seeking Shelter webpage: https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/3356/Seeking-Shelter