HRDC Seeking Support to Extend Warming Center Season in Livingston

LIVINGSTON — As temperatures drop and the need for emergency shelter grows, HRDC needs the community’s support to keep the Livingston Warming Center open longer this winter.

Currently, HRDC plans to operate the 20-bed shelter on 2nd Street in Livingston during the coldest months, January and February, to maximize available funds. Since 2019, HRDC has provided a vital refuge for people experiencing homelessness in Park County, offering a safe, warm place to stay during Montana’s harsh winter nights.

To date, HRDC has enough funding to open for the two coldest months of the year. “We are hopeful and optimistic that we will be able to extend the season, hopefully even before the holidays, if we can gain additional support,” says Brian Guyer, HRDC’s Emergency and Supportive Housing Director. “The cost to operate from December through March is roughly $180,000. Our goal is to raise $90,000 in local support to help our neighbors in need.”

In recent years, the need for emergency shelter in Park County has grown significantly. The 2024 Point in Time (PIT) count, a yearly count of those experiencing homelessness, showed that the number of unhoused people in Park County has risen from 5 in 2020 to nearly 50 in 2024. “For many, our Livingston Warming Center is a life-saving resource during Montana’s harsh winter months, and we are grateful for the community’s commitment to keeping our doors open.”

To donate to the Livingston Warming Center, please visit thehrdc.org/donate.

As a private, not-for-profit Community Action Organization focuses on building a better community through its nearly 50 initiatives. HRDC combats poverty in southwestern Montana and believes everyone deserves the opportunity to be financially stable. To learn more about us, visit www.thehrdc.org.