HRDC’s Response to COVID-19

In an effort to slow the transmission of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and to protect the many vulnerable populations we serve, HRDC is deploying new ways of meeting our mission across our family of programs and services. As new directives and guidance come forth and community partner conversations continue, we anticipate adjustments to the following. We will do our best to keep up communications and will be posting updates.

We plan to take every precaution considering the vulnerability of our team members, our volunteers, our customers and our community while still making sure the essential needs of our customers are met.

Please know that we continue to receive directives and guidance from local, regional, state and national partners. We will be making operational changes routinely.

HRDC lobbies will not be open to the general public. Our Bozeman and Livingston office locations have entryway mailboxes and manila envelopes for our customers to drop off paperwork or request a phone call. Customers without a phone or email are being served on a case-by-case basis.

HRDC is Here to Help! Please let us know how we can provide you with assistance or connect you with services during this uncertain time. Example: “How can I access the Gallatin Valley Food Bank?” -OR- “I am a senior and in need of toilet paper and milk.”

Please sign up on our volunteer website to be notified of available volunteer opportunities such as Shop 4 a Senior, Food Box Packing, Food Box Distribution, Warming Center Moving Support, etc.

Cash donations are immensely appreciated and definitely needed.   Unrestricted funds give us the flexibility to meet the current local community needs especially during times like these.

We are unable to accept drop off donations at this time, however if you have a donation you think HRDC may benefit from, please click on the link and complete the form or email hello@thehrdc.org and let us know.

HRDC Services

Food Banks
– Gallatin Valley Food Bank is operating 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday.

– Big Sky Community Food Bank has moved to prepacked food boxes and a drive-thru and will have additional hours of operations: pick-ups from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 am-3:00 pm Wednesdays and Fridays.

– Headwaters Area Food Bank offers prepacked food boxes and a drive-up model.
Tuesday 1pm-4pm
Wednesday 2pm-6pm
Thursday 10am-2pm

Mobile food box distribution in Belgrade is temporarily suspended.

– School Meals model will resume in the coming days to provide food during school closures. For detailed information about food distribution in your community, click HERE.

Warming Center:
HRDC’s Warming Center is closed for evening shelter. We know this is a difficult time for our community and particularly those without shelter. This decision did not come lightly and comes at the recommendation of our Advisory Council. The concern stems from the ability to appropriately space sleeping bunks in line with current CDC recommendations and the number and percentage of our Warming Center guests that are included in the high-risk population.

Our Warming Center is offering day services, between 10am – 2pm to provide guests with appropriate outdoor gear, showers, restrooms, and wellness checks. The Livingston location is working with community businesses to help shelter guests in other locations and will provide appropriate gear as needed.

Fork & Spoon:
Our Fork & Spoon is offering take-out only. Operating hours will stay the same, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The lobby, eating area, and bathrooms will be closed to the general public. Patrons will use the front entrance to pick up food to-go.

Streamline Transit:
1. Half-hour frequency service on Blueline, Redline, and Yellowline/Orangeline is suspended until further notice.
2. The MSU Campus Shuttle will no longer be running this semester.
3. The Bridger Bowl weekend shuttle is suspended due to the closure of Bridger Bowl.
4. LateNight (including both Upstream and Downtown) is cancelled for this upcoming weekend (March 26, 27, and 28).

We are closely monitoring what other communities are doing and directives from state and national partners and CDC guidance as we move forward.

Galavan Para-Transit:
Galavan will offer rides as possible with staff availability. We are working on ways to increase our drivers and fleet to reduce the numbers of riders per vehicles to accomplish proper distancing. Additional robust cleaning procedures have been adopted.

Early Childhood Education:
Following the guidance of Governor Bullock, who announced the closure of all public schools K-12 in the state of Montana, HRDC Head Start centers are currently closed. Our main priority is to protect the health and safety of our community. We understand that this may cause a hardship for your family, and our program is working on ways to support you during this time. Our team is working to develop a packet of local resources and supports for food and other needs. Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time, please feel free to email our Early Childhood Edcuation Director at ssavage@thehrdc.org with questions you may have.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance:

HRDC’s VITA Tax assistance program is temporarily suspended as we strive to protect our clients, volunteers and community from the COVID-19 virus.

The tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15 2020.  

Due to the ever changing implications of the virus and not knowing if our services will resume at this stage, we are recommending people seek out alternate ways to file their taxes.  

More information on the unfolding situation and resources to support: 

• Filing for an extension
• Filing yourself and
• Paper filing can be found here 

Senior Programs:
HRDC is suspending all Senior Reach behavioral health home visits. Homemaker services are being assessed on a case by case basis. For all at risk seniors, we will maintain contact by phone to ensure their essential needs are being addressed. Senior Centers across our communities are closing, including in Bozeman, Manhattan, Three Forks, Park, and more. Though communal meals will not be provided, individuals will have the option to pick up food to go. Meals on Wheels will continue, but all volunteers will wear gloves and will drop off meals at the door.

NEW** Shop 4 a Senior: This service helps seniors meet their essential needs by getting their groceries or other items without having to head out themselves. Seniors are invited to contact HRDC to request their essential needs. HRDC then recruits a donor/volunteer to pick up the items. Those items are given to HRDC, who then delivers the items to the seniors. This service is confidential and available to all seniors at no cost. To get assistance, seniors can call 406-587-5444 or scroll up and click “Request Support” button.

Energy and Weatherization:
Our energy programs have been directed to cease all Weatherization work through March 27. Our LIEAP and Energy Share programs will be operating via customer drop off and processing. NorthWestern Energy is suspending service disconnections during the COVID-19 outbreak. You can read more HERE. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. is also implementing a moratorium on service disconnections for non-payments related to hardships incurred from COVID-19.

Contact Us:

Please direct inquiries to our main phone line or general email address, we are staffing our phones and email. Contact 587-4486 or hello@thehrdc.org or visit www.thehrdc.org for current updates.

HRDC’s Continued Response to COVID-19 – **Updated Daily