Missoula council adopts "On Our Way Home" houselessness strategy; members stress funding and enforcement questions

The Missoula City Council voted unanimously to adopt "On Our Way Home," a community houselessness strategy that outlines a coalition‑based approach and a set of goals for reducing unsheltered homelessness in Missoula.

The resolution to adopt the plan was moved by Council member Nugent and approved after council discussion and public comment. Staff said they had no additional information to provide at the time of the vote.

Why it matters: The strategy sets a collaborative framework for city staff, service providers, philanthropic partners and other stakeholders to coordinate policy, funding and services. Council members described the plan as aspirational and emphasized that detailed program design and funding are still to come.

Public comment and council discussion Public commenters expressed both support and concern. Sage Bennett, a frequent commentator on unhoused issues, cited the most recent point‑in‑time count and other statistics from the plan, saying 1,484 people had experienced homelessness during the past year and that a one‑day count showed 644 people unhoused, with 25% without shelter. Bennett and other commenters urged the council to ensure shelter capacity and to avoid criminalizing people who are unsheltered.

Council member Nugent responded to public concern about state legislation known as HB 642, which some commenters said would impose fines of $500 per day for certain conduct. Nugent said the state law does not obligate Missoula to write $500 daily fines and that the city enforces many matters under city ordinance where appropriate. “It is important people to know the state legislature passed HB 642 ... It does not obligate cities to follow it,” he said.

Council members acknowledged the plan is a framework that will require additional funding decisions. Council member Jordan said the city will spend approximately $400,000 to support a housing sprint to remove barriers for people at Johnson Street Shelter, but noted ongoing gaps in funding to help people remain housed after placement. Council member Campbell called the new strategy a “starting framework” and said the details and financing will determine outcomes.

Shelter capacity and fines Public commenters raised concerns about Johnson Street Shelter and the potential loss of roughly 200 emergency beds, the size of the existing emergency shelter bed capacity (513 beds reported in the plan, including Johnson Street Shelter), and enforcement measures such as a local $50 fine and ordinance changes that some commenters said amount to criminalization. Several speakers urged increased shelter funding and expressed alarm about enforcement measures that fine unsheltered people.

What passed and next steps Council adopted the On Our Way Home Missoula community houselessness strategy unanimously. The strategy calls for continued coalition building, the city providing staff support and data, and further work on program design and funding. City staff and philanthropic partners will continue coordinating implementation steps, including the housing sprint and other initiatives referenced in the plan.

Provenance: The item was introduced under regular business (topic introduced at 1542.52 in the transcript) and the vote and concluding remarks appear later in the record (topic finish at 2458.53).