Missoula’s Homelessness Response One Year After Johnson St. Shelter Closure: Full Shelters and Strained Services

Missoula officials, homeless service providers, and unhoused individuals have acknowledged that the closure of the Johnson Street temporary emergency homeless shelter a year ago did not coincide with a decrease in need. The closure left Missoula’s longstanding homeless shelter consistently full, placing additional strain on organizations serving those living on the streets. Limited shelter capacity has resulted in more individuals living outside, navigating the city’s camping restrictions.

Jill Bonny, the executive director of the Poverello Center, highlighted the city’s adaptation to managing limited resources over the past year. She emphasized the need to shift from merely relocating individuals to providing sufficient options to help them progress. The Poverello Center operated the Johnson Street shelter from November 2020 for three winters and reopened it in September 2023 due to a rise in the unsheltered population, operating year-round for two years. This was financially supported by COVID-era federal funding, which concluded in 2025.

In March 2025, city officials announced the shelter’s closure, initiating a “housing sprint” aimed at securing permanent housing for as many shelter residents as possible before September 2, 2025. During this period, the shelter’s capacity was gradually reduced from 165 beds to 30. The sprint successfully helped 63 individuals secure permanent housing, with 58 of them residing at the Johnson Street shelter. Emily Armstrong, the city’s houseless programs manager, reported that 83% of participants retained their housing six months post-sprint.

Clayton Shaya, a member of the Unhoused Neighbors Union, secured housing during the sprint with the aid of a voucher and rental deposit. However, he noted that others have since lost their housing and face fewer opportunities for assistance. The city raised approximately $200,000 to assist with rental applications and deposits as part of the sprint. As the community reflects on these efforts, the need for sustainable solutions remains evident, echoing the biblical call to care for the vulnerable, as seen in Matthew 25:35.

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