Purpose of Meeting
The Public Safety & Community Resource Series is a monthly educational forum designed to increase transparency, understanding, and collaboration around public safety and community-based resources in Yellowstone County. Hosted at the Billings Public Library, the series brings together city and county partners, service providers, and the community to share how systems work, how they connect, and how they collectively contribute to a safer, healthier community.
Each session focuses on a specific topic and highlights real-world coordination between public safety, outreach, and resource systems, creating a space for informed dialogue, relationship-building, and community education.
This session in the series focuses on Shelter Systems and Access in Yellowstone County, featuring representatives from Montana Rescue Mission, Off The Streets, Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley, and the YWCA. Panelists will provide an overview of the different shelter models operating in our community, the populations they serve, and how individuals and families access shelter and supportive services.
The discussion will explore the role shelters play within the broader homelessness response system, how organizations coordinate with outreach teams, healthcare providers, and public safety partners, and the challenges and opportunities involved in meeting community shelter needs. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how these programs work together to provide safety, stability, and pathways toward housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
This session is intended to help community members better understand how shelter systems function locally, how individuals can access help, and how service providers collaborate to support people during times of crisis and transition.