Butte, Montana – With more homeless shelters across the state closing their doors, Butte is bracing for an influx of displaced individuals seeking refuge. The recent decision by Missoula to close its Johnson Street Temporary Emergency Shelter has heightened concerns about the growing homelessness crisis in the region.
Brayton Erickson, the director of the Butte Rescue Mission, expressed his concerns over the closures. “It’s a bummer, those resources, there’s only so much housing in our state, only so many places to go and so we’ll see an impact here,” he said.
The Butte Rescue Mission, which provides vital services to the homeless, continues to offer a lifeline to people in need, regardless of the growing strain on local resources. “Our front door is open 24/7, we’re here all the time, so we literally save lives on a daily basis,” Erickson added.
In 2024, the Butte Rescue Mission sheltered more than 660 individuals and served over 106,000 meals. During the brutal sub-zero temperatures earlier this winter, the shelter saw its nightly occupancy double, with more than 30 people staying on any given night. “Our nightly average was more than double our capacity, so we were seeing 32, 35 people staying here,” Erickson noted.
Despite these challenges, the Butte Rescue Mission has found strong support from the local community. Many residents, like Lynette Vetos, have stepped forward to donate clothing, food, and financial support. “You don’t know the stories of the people who are homeless, and if I see a stranger on the street, I give them five or 10 bucks,” Vetos shared as she dropped off donated clothes at the shelter.
The shelter has already started working on expanding its facilities to accommodate more individuals. Erickson emphasized that the mission’s goal goes beyond providing shelter. “You’re valuable, you’re a human, and we want to see you succeed in life,” he said, noting that the mission is focused on helping people transition from homelessness to permanent housing and employment.
With the challenges of rising demand and limited resources, Butte’s shelters, like the Butte Rescue Mission, remain a critical safety net for many. As the community continues to rally together, the need for more sustainable solutions to address homelessness in Montana remains urgent.
For now, Butte’s dedication to helping its most vulnerable citizens is a shining example of compassion and resilience in the face of adversity.
