The Friendship Center to Partner With Family Promise of Greater Helena for Temporary Shelter Capacity

With an uncertain timeline for shelter repairs from May flood damage at Sanders Street facility, the two Helena nonprofits are partnering to temporarily offset reduced long-term shelter capacity for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

(HELENA, Mont., August 31, 2026) – Following a fire suppression system leak in May 2026 that left parts of the shelter facility and offices at 1430 Sanders Street in Helena damaged by flooding, The Friendship Center (TFC) will be partnering with Family Promise of Greater Helena to temporarily accommodate victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in need of safe shelter.

Flooding from the fire suppression system leak impacted much of TFC's first-floor shelter area, the hallway connecting administrative offices and shelter, and parts of basement storage and utilities areas. While the first-floor shelter area that includes five bedrooms with shared bathrooms and semi-congregate living room and kitchen spaces awaits repairs, TFC clients with shelter needs have been temporarily accommodated at hotels.

The timeline for repairing the first-floor shelter space is yet to be determined, with the insurance claim process for property damage still active as TFC works with contractors to determine construction and restoration costs. To offset the temporary loss of shelter capacity, Family Promise has offered their new 16-room shelter facility as a stopgap to temporarily accommodate TFC shelter residents. The new facility, which will be ready to occupy in September, is not slated to start accommodating Family Promise clients until early 2027.

“Hotels are essential to our ability to meet short-term emergency shelter needs of our clients, but it is not a long-term solution for clients with long-term needs, particularly if they have dependent children living with them,” said Kim Patterson, Executive Director of The Friendship Center. “The cost of accommodating all shelter clients at hotels indefinitely is also unsustainable for our budget, and we know shelter needs are going to rise going into the fall and winter months. Family Promise’s willingness to step up and offer their new space as a temporary solution while our shelter waits for repairs is a game-changer, and a testament to how vital partnerships are to meeting our community’s needs.”

“As Family Promise prepares to open our new 16-room shelter we feel compelled to partner with The Friendship Center in their time of need,” said Madison Ragsdale, Executive Director of Family Promise. “Partnering with The Friendship Center allows us to collectively stretch our resources further and meet the comprehensive needs of families in crisis. When community organizations can unite, we build a stronger, more resilient safety net that ensures no family in crisis in the Helena area has to face it alone.”

TFC’s services for people experiencing crisis or safety concerns related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking include crisis intervention, legal advocacy, medical accompaniment, shelter, and safety planning. In 2025, TFC served over 700 individuals, including 121 clients and 47 family members who received 13,929 nights of shelter.

Family Promise is opening a new 16-room shelter to accommodate families experiencing homelessness in the Helena community, while also dedicating space to support single women. In 2025, Family Promise served 133 families across their various programs, sheltering 11 families in their previous facilities. They anticipate significantly increasing the number of families they can house and support with the expanded site. Construction is expected to be complete by the second week of September.

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About The Friendship Center

Founded in 1971, The Friendship Center is the community resource for addressing and preventing domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking through advocacy, education, and outreach in Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties. Learn more at thefriendshipcenter.org.

About Family Promise of Greater Helena

The mission of Family Promise of Greater Helena is to help families experiencing homelessness and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.

TFC Contact:

Kim Patterson, Executive Director

406.442.6800

kim.p@thefriendshipcenter.org

Family Promise Contact:

Madison Ragsdale, Executive Director

406.491.3212

ED@familypromisehelena.org