Helena Grant Gives Homeless Recovery Center a Permanent Home

After bouncing between temporary locations for over a year, a recovery center helping people experiencing homelessness in Helena, Montana, is finally getting a place to call home.

Our Place, a walk-in center that has served 20 to 30 people daily since December 2019, will move into a permanent space inside Good Samaritan Ministries' building. The move comes thanks to a $134,600 grant from the city of Helena that will transform part of the organization's back warehouse into a welcoming recovery hub.

"We really needed something permanent, something stable that we could know our clients were going to have somewhere to go," said Mikayla Kapphan, Good Samaritan's services manager.

The center started on Last Chance Gulch but had to relocate early last year. Helena Area Habitat for Humanity offered temporary space while staff searched for a long-term solution, but the constant moving created instability for people who needed consistency most.

The new location sits directly behind Good Samaritan's thrift store, making it easier for guests to grab clothes, toiletries, and other necessities without traveling across town. For people working toward recovery, that simple convenience removes one more barrier to getting help.

"Them feeling welcome, feeling like they belong somewhere, that they even feel like a human person," said Eric Kroeger, Good Samaritan's mission and strategy manager.

The Ripple Effect

This permanent space means more than just a roof overhead. Having a consistent, safe place where people feel connected plays a huge role in recovery and overall well-being.

The renovation is happening in phases. Phase one is already underway, creating a temporary gathering area so clients can start using the space immediately. Future phases will add a larger common area, laundry facilities, a telehealth room, and additional storage.

The space should open within the next week, pending permits. The full project costs $318,000, with the city grant covering the first portion and fundraising for the remainder starting in May. Staff hope to complete everything by next March.

"We plan to make it very warm and welcoming, the same Our Place in a new location," Kapphan said. "It will be a change, but it will be good, and it's all for the better."

For 20 to 30 people each day, that permanent space will mean one less worry and one more reason to believe things can get better.