Sign up for the free Helena This Week newsletter and stay in the loop on Helena city government, public school meetings, business news and upcoming entertainment and events. Sign up 03/09/2025 Resident complaints spurred removal of those camping along Cruse Avenue The city of Helena and the police department removed a downtown homeless encampment last week after receiving numerous complaints from residents. Thursday morning, about a dozen unhoused people camped along Cruse Avenue behind the Holter Museum of Art and God’s Love shelter were told to clear the area as local law enforcement and city parks and recreation staff assisted in clean-up efforts, according to city public information officer Amanda Opitz. The city has several triggers for addressing urban encampments, including when they become a public health or safety issue, block public access or when area residents complain, Opitz told Montana Free Press last week.  “In this case, the city received several complaints about the encampment, and the tents were blocking pedestrian access on the Cruse Avenue sidewalk,” Opitz said.  Police and local nonprofit Good Samaritan Ministries’s street outreach team notified people staying at the encampment a week before they were removed and assisted them with available resources, Opitz said. “In situations like this, staff encourages people to connect with those resources rather than simply moving them along,” Optiiz said. “We recognize that homelessness is a complex issue that cannot be solved through enforcement alone.” While the city maintains that it’s not illegal to be unsheltered, camping overnight on city-owned property or blocking ADA and other public access points violates city law. Tents line the sidewalk of Cruse Avenue before clean-up efforts began Thursday, March 5, 2026. Credit: Good Samaritan Ministries Good Samaritan Ministries’ street outreach team helped individuals pack up their belongings, clean up the area and transported a few people to Our Place for further support, according to Mikayla Kapphan with Good Samaritan Ministries. “The main job for us is to be out on the streets meeting people where they’re at and guiding them to resources,” Kapphan told MTFP. “It’s a really important thing; a lot of our unsheltered [people] are elderly or disabled, so it’s a big thing to meet them where they’re at.”  “The city has and will continue to work with local service organizations, partners and community groups to support long-term solutions while ensuring public spaces remain safe and accessible for everyone,” Opitz said. Public Notice  The League of Women Voters of the Helena Area will host a presentation about Montana water quality at the Lewis Clark Library at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 23. The event, “Keeping It Clean for People and Wildlife: Protecting Montana’s Water Quality,” will feature Pretty Good Outfitters owner Micah Fields and Upper Missouri Waterkeeper Director Guy Alsentzer as speakers. Visit the league’s website for more information. The Helena Business Improvement District’s safety series is back and will offer training classes in March and April. The first class is scheduled for Monday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 330 N. Jackson St., and will cover what to do in the event of an active shooter. Registration costs between $15 and $35, depending on the class. To sign up, visit the BID’s safety series website.  5 Things to Know in Helena Aaron Gams, the former St. Peter’s Health nurse accused of sexually assaulting a patient, was arraigned last Wednesday at the Lewis and Clark County District Court on the updated felony of sexual assault resulting in bodily injury. Judge Michael McMahon entered a not-guilty plea on Gams’ behalf, and a jury trial was scheduled for Sept. 9. If found guilty, Gams could face up to 100 years in prison. Last week, Helena Police Chief Brett Petty, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton and other law enforcement officials met with the legislative law and justice interim committee to discuss the potential of a new “buffer zone” law. The proposed law would establish a “halo” for officers to help prevent individuals from interfering with their duties. The discussion was preliminary, and no action was taken.   City transportation services director David Knoepke presented tentative revisions to the sidewalk code to the commission last week. Some proposed revisions include clarifying when developments trigger the installation of sidewalks, removing the time requirement for snow and ice removal and adding flexibility for properties without neighbors. The presentation will be  deliberated at a future city commission meeting.  The city has contracted crews to remove trees that were damaged by December’s winter storm. The work, focused on the northwestern corner of Mount Helena, began last week, according to a city press release. Larger trees will be turned into logs and remain on the forest floor to help manage bark beetles.   Last week, U.S. Forest Service crews conducted prescribed burns of about 2,300 acres in the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The affected areas included six miles northwest of Radersburg in the Elkhorn Mountains and near Canyon Ferry, according to a forest service press release.  Comings and Goings  Coming: Helena city officials approved the development of a new 288-unit apartment complex, an IR story reported last week. The new housing, called Artisan Grove Apartments, will be built at 2785 Artisan Loop, next to Winco and the recently opened Summerville Flats.  Might Be Fun  The Painted Pot will host a “Harry Pottery” themed event Friday, March 13. Tickets cost $15 and the event will go from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the Painted Pot’s website for additional information or to purchase tickets. The post City clears out Helena homeless encampment appeared first on Montana Free Press. ...read more read less