Orange Acres Burned by fire , Photos in google link

Orange Acres is a free guest ranch for veterans, young adult nerds and artists.  
We opened in 2007 and have helped over 2000 guests with a place to stay. 

We have welcomed international explorers, domestic abuse victims, music and visual artists that need time away from the world to make art, individuals new to the area looking for jobs and housing, forest service and conservation corps trail crews and firefighters and EMTs, veterans and active duty personnel many which are adjusting to civilian life and individuals looking for friends and many individuals suffering from depression from being in a country run by assholes. 

What ever the reason guests will find our low budget facility made with recycled materials outshined by the first class friendships and experiences people make while staying here. 

  We help guests that come from workaway, couchsurfing, bewelcome, and warmshowers websites and/ or submit an application that want to stay with us for 3-20 days and sometimes longer. Fun activities and games are mandatory. 

Guests help out 2-3 hours per day to earn their stay helping maintain the facility and garden. We dont rent places to stay to people who want to buy their way in and not work or be part of our group of friends. 
 We are not a free homeless shelter or drug rehab center and do not take drug addicts and alcoholics who want someone else to take care of them so they can spend all their money and time on drugs.

   We have 8 acres for RV parking and car van and tent camping, and we still have our outside cabins, We have a restroom and shower in the house with a seperate outside door that guests can use 24/7 and an outdoor shower and laundry in the summer. We have wi-fi, beautiful views, work out equipment and outdoor kitchen and a kitchen in a bus. We go on hikes, floats, bike rides, take the boat to the lake, and play role playing games like dungeons and dragons.

Sit and read a book, pick dinner from our garden, talk to our sheep, or waste time on the internet!
Out front we have a used car dealership that provides most of our funding to pay our powerbils ($200-800 a month) and $300 a month property taxes. Though we have had about $9000 in donations over the 15 years we have been here, the averaged $50 a month in donations has helped us with repairs and utilities during tough times.

While our main building burned in a fire 2020. But we are still open  and are working to clean the place up and rebuild.




 In August 2020 Orange Acres Montana Community Center was destroyed by a fire.  We are still open with limited facilities. We are working to settle with the insurance company so we can rebuild or move somewhere else.

Also in 2020 facebook deleted JeffreyJames Halvorson's facebook account during the Biden election for sharing info about the hunter biden laptop and other biden corruption in ukraine, all now shown to be true and an act to censor and influence the presidential election. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/aug/25/mark-zuckerberg-joe-rogan-facebook-suppressed-hunt/ 

This lead to most of the content for the Orange Acres facebook page being deleted as well as all of friends and pictures and comments from Halvorson being erased. "Be assured I did not delete you as a friend or block you. I have a new facebook page but I do not have friends on it , because facebook sells you and your content to your friends for ad revenue. "

We now have pictures in a google photos folder and you can see them here. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6sDVtbahJvJf5xSp8 

If you have any pictures of the OA and the good times we had please email them to me cause we might not have a copy of them OrangeAcresMontana@gmail.coM

Here is a video our friend Dan made of our friends helping getting the power and water back on after the fire , and how our guests kept coming and kept getting by.  


Orange Acres open still helping young adults and veterans

Thanks to all the support of our volunteers and donors we raised $3000 with our go fund me. While our place costs a lot to run every month , the money raised has gone to improvements and has been saved to help us expand our septic or find a new home.

We won our right to exist in our lawsuit , lost the kitchen inside our building but can have an outdoor kitchen for our guests to use. inorder for us to expand to having more bedrooms we will have to have a larger septic system, buy first the site will have to have to pass ground water level tests. This is a chalange because of irragation on neighboring properties flooding our land. 

We have remodeled our guest bathroom and shower, one of the guest rooms got new carpet and paint,  and the room where the old kitchen has a new floor and paint,  we fixed holes in the roof and gotten faster internet. Outside we have an outdoor kitchen guests can use. It sucks in the winter for veterans and young adults to have to stand out in the cold and get rained on while cooking, and they can thank a democrat Missoula County Commissioner and the missoula environmental health department.

Missoula county commisioners close free guest ranch for veteran and young adults

PLEASE LIKE AND SHARE THIS VIDEO TO HELP SAVE ORANGE ACRES >  Our free guest ranch for veterans and young adults is closed as we are forced to remove our free guest kitchen and food pantry and beds from our bunk house in our Community Center. Because of the County Commissioners actions,  our ability to help others has been limited and we will have to turn away many veterans and homeless and disadvantaged young adults.
Please share this video to support our cause. https://youtu.be/WmH6-7c0uu0
View and share our Go Fund Me at
https://www.gofundme.com/OrangeAcres
Thanks to all our friends who have helped us making and sharing this video, God Bless You All.

Orange Acres needs your help!


Orange Acres Montana Couchsurfing Community Center has given over a thousand people a free place to stay. If you have ever heard the YMCA song by The Village People, you know what we do. We give young adults and veterans, free food, hot shower, a drug and alcohol free safe place to stay, where they feel at home and part of our community with friends that care about them. 


We don’t just have one type of people we help. In our 8 years we have hosted furloughed airline pilots, union plumbers and carpenters, people that lost their homes to foreclosures and unemployment, mentally challenged individuals, people recovering from sickness, cancer, surgeries, and heartbreak, young bands and music artists trying to make their names, painters and artists that needed time to make the world more beautiful, people moving to town to look for jobs or housing before collage started, grad students doing cancer cure research at the U of M, volunteers building a nearby Buddhist temple, young entrepreneurs traveling and marketing their businesses, athletes riding their bicycles or walking across the country, domestic abuse survivors, and young families that were turned away from local homeless shelters because they had children. We have had people that have lost their homes to fires, people wrongly charged with crimes they were later proved innocent of but still lost everything they owned. Many are veterans who cant deal with crowded shelters because of PTSD, or need a place to stay while traveling to VA clinics, at risk homeless youths that shouldn't be thrown in with drug dealers and convicted criminals at other shelters, and people chasing their dreams on a tight budget, some are mentally broken and starting over in life. We have even had people whose cars broke down right in front of our driveway with no place to go, as if God knew if they broke down further down the road we would have not been there to help them. We have had buses full of 20 hippie kids stop in for the night, and while you might not agree with everyone’s ideals and life choices they still are someones daughter or son. I have received phone calls from parents who have thanked me for taking care of their young adult children and keeping them safe with food to eat, and a place to get clean. We have internet and computers where they can email home, look for jobs and housing, a free free food pantry and garden, and free clothing closet. 

We are a free guest ranch, not a homeless shelter. The big difference is we don’t host people who routinely spend all their money on drugs and alcohol and then want to let others pay for their food and place to stay, and we don’t host people on probation, or violent and sexual offenders. We welcome people regardless of their sex, race, religion, financial situation, and sexual orientation. We are not a cult and do not force religion on anyone, but strive to do Gods work of helping each other.

We also teach life skills to many that never had a proper home, from sharing, cooking, tools gardening, construction, welding, car repair, basic cleanliness. We have helped people with rides to healthcare, interviews and jobs, and to get food.

My Name is JeffreyJames Halvorson and in 2008 I bought 8 unzoned acres north of Missoula Montana. The property has a house and a 5000 square feet commercial tannery building that had an employee kitchen and shower. It was dumping up to 23,000 gallons a day of rotting animal fat and hide washing water in 2 sewage ponds on the property. I made it into a free guest ranch for young adults and veterans, where people could escape the pressures of everyday rat race and simply just be with free basic food and shelter, and enjoy the simple things in life.

The people that stayed here volunteered to work 2 hours a day cleaning and improving the property, Together we built cabins from pallets and recycled building materials, and have a large organic garden where we grow food to share and give away. We were swarmed during the economic crash of 2009, I started letting people camp in the building and on the property.

We became a close family, but in 2011 Missoula County began discriminating against us and sued us for daily fines totaling over a million dollars for helping people for free, telling us: we could only have 3 bedrooms, we could not give people free food like the foodbank does, we could not let people park RVs overnight like walmart and truckstops do, could not let people camp like forest lands do, we could build guest cabins on skids but could not have rvs (then sued us for it), we could connect our buildings and make one big house (told us to, sold us a permit, then revoked it), and we could not have 2 kitchens in one house even if we connected the buildings to form one big house.

There is no environmental or water quality problems, we even let the County inspect our property. The problem is the County illegally approved the permits in 1995 and 1997, then verified them to us in 2007 before we bought it, then they sued us exactly for what they permitted just to discriminate against us. They told us we needed a bigger septic tank so we offered to get one, then they told us we would have to move our septic from where they had permitted it twice and do ground water testing only 40 feet from where it had been allowed before. Then after 12 months and $560 in testing they decided that because our neighbor floods his land for 2 weeks in the summer to water his hay, that our land is un-buildable and unsuitable for a septic system which they had permitted twice before. We tried to work with the County, and spent over $1500 in permits. Additionally during this lawsuit the county put a lien on our property for the last 5 years which has prohibited us from refinancing our 7% mortgage at 2.5%, which would have saved us about $30,000 by now. 

After 4 years the judge ruled we won the right to exist, are not required to have an accommodations license which the County intended to deny, and no fines. But sadly the judge is making us remove our free food pantry and remove our free open kitchen from our community center, and limiting us to only 6 bedrooms on our 8 acre property, while denying our septic expansion permits. Without outside help Orange Acres will close this fall or be severely limited in our ability to help others.

Defending our property and rights to help others has cost us thousands of dollars, and devalued the property which I have invested over $150,000 dollars into, and still owe $200,000 on our mortgage. The buildings are in need of major repairs and we will have to reconfigure the home so we can allow access to the house kitchen for our guests. We would like to build 4 larger bedrooms that can fit 2 beds each to replace 4 small ones we have that wont. While I have funded the day to day operations with my small car lot and trailer sales and out of my own savings, for 8 years with less then $900 in total outside donations and no public funding, I have been slowly losing money and can't afford the needed upgrades, let alone continue to fund the monthly $1000 in interest on the mortgage, the $400-$800 power bills, insurance, food and $300 a month property taxes. Even with our all volunteer staff it costs nearly $3000 a month to keep Orange Acres open. If we sold all of my cars I would still not have enough to even pay off half the mortgage and then would have no way to sustain the costs of daily operations.

While our goal of $250,000 or more may seem like a lot, it would create a space for 10-20 people. A new homeless shelter in Missoula was just built for $5 million and was designed for only 100 persons and has already reached capacity. 

Here is our Go Fund Me campaign. If is successful, it will allow us to upgrade the current property and pay off the mortgage, or if we can raise enough money buy a new property outside of Missoula County where we could have more than 6 bedrooms. 

Here are a few rough estimates of our goals, mostly to buy materials and permits as a lot of the work we can do ourselves but some we are required to hire approved contractors (electrical).

We need $25,000 to reconfigure the house for sharing the kitchen, and add a new living room (the old will be our new dining room) and add one bedroom and bathroom.

An additional $15,000 would help us by adding 3 large bedrooms to replace 3 of our very small bedrooms and cabins, with rooms that could have 2 beds in them.

An additional $10,000 would help us replace the 30 year old wood roofing with metal roofing (the current one only leaks when it rains, not on sunny days!) and cover the new additions. 

Up to $10,000 to form a non profit and pay an accountant, so we can issue tax deductible receipts for future donations to support day to day operations. (Though without a mortgage to pay we would be mostly self sustaining).

If we raise an additional $200,000 we could pay off our $1400 a month 7 % mortgage, or help us move outside Missoula County where we would be free of future harassment by the County if they deny our building permits again. A donation of a new property or home for us would also be great. (Even a 1% or 2% low interest loan to payoff the mortgage would also help us as we could pay down the principle faster.) 

No donation is too small, even if it is $5, it allows you to leave us a comment supporting us, especially if you have stayed at Orange Acres before or know someone who we have helped. If you only have $10 please don't send us $5, but share this on your facebook page.

Thank you for your continued support and subscribe and "get notifications" to stay up to date with our progress on our facebook page!

Shepherd JeffreyJames Halvorson


Visit our Go Fund me page here

https://www.gofundme.com/25jyvec

Here is our petition from our friend asking for help, thank you to all that signed it , we gave it to the Judge during the trial.  https://www.change.org/p/help-orange-acres 



A letter asking you to help Orange Acres by signing a petition.

"My husband was an American Army infantryman. He was blown up outside of Baghdad and is now 100 percent disabled with a host of psychological and physical problems.

In 2010, we decided to have a road trip to help him reacclimate to America. Our car ended up breaking down in Missoula, Montana. I hopped onto couchsurfing.com to find tools so we wouldn’t have to buy them so my husband could fix the car. Instead, we found the Orange Acres and Jeffrey James Halvorson.

He came in person and towed our car; he gave us a free place to stay with all the amenities; and he helped us in his garage with his own tools. The generosity, the spirit, the great communal happiness of the place and the owner, not to mention just the absolute peace of the surroundings and to see my PTSD husband basking in it – it still brings tears to my eyes to remember that summer on the Orange Acres and the absolute goodness in people, the absolute relaxation I saw in my troubled man, the absolute antidote for war that was Orange Acres.

Now Halvorson is being sued and Orange Acres is no longer the thriving, happy community it was, and I find it heartbreaking. People should be allowed to help their neighbors, in whatever way they want or can afford or know how. Orange Acres is a good place that saved my husband and me, in more ways than one.

C. Hazen,
Ft. Campbell, Ky."

Please Share and sign the petition, Like our Facebook page, write a letter to the paper, call the governor.
https://www.change.org/petitions/help-orange-acres

www.facebook.com/orangeacres

here are some of the comments on our Change.com petition, thanks to all that signed

REASONS FOR SIGNING

  • NaRon McCormick MISSOULA, MT
    • 2 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I've been there and met the man.
  • George Hirsch SIMCOE, CANADA
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I stayed at Orange Acres. This modest place helps many people who have no other place to turn. America needs MORE places like this (with big hearts) not fewer!
  • Teresa McHugh MISSOULA, MT
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I believe the kindness of his heart should be able to continue to help people as God has asked him to.
  • Karen Hornyak BARBERTON, OH
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    The wrongs done to Mr. Halvorson by the MCC need to be righted.
  • Chris Hazen BUFFALO, NY
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I am a disabled veteran who needed a place to stay after being honorably discharged. Jeff gave me a place to get back on my feet. I am now
    re-established and owe him gratitude.
  • George Hirsch SIMCOE, CANADA
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I stayed at Orange Acres. This modest place helps many people who have no other place to turn. America needs MORE places like this (with big hearts) not fewer!
  • Teresa McHugh MISSOULA, MT
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I believe the kindness of his heart should be able to continue to help people as God has asked him to.
  • Karen Hornyak BARBERTON, OH
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    The wrongs done to Mr. Halvorson by the MCC need to be righted.
  • Chris Hazen BUFFALO, NY
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I am a disabled veteran who needed a place to stay after being honorably discharged. Jeff gave me a place to get back on my feet. I am now
    re-established and owe him gratitude.
  • Yolanda Janson MISSOULA, MT
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Jeff has done nothing but try tobhelpbhos community in a way most others will not. He receives no monetary compensation for doing so. It breaks my heart that someone with nothing would offer anything to anyone out of the kindness of his heart only to be punished for it. He has helped families, veterans, those down on their luck and the average Joe in a way no one else will. I find it unbelievable that all the hoops he jumps through the circus act continues. He is a law abiding man who offers what little he has to help mankind, without motive or prejudice. If only our government and communities would follow suit.
  • Jeanne Medley LEWISTON, ID
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Mr. Halverson has a heart of gold, he has provided a haven for people in need. These folks could have been a burden to the taxpayers. Thanks to Mr. Halverson's generosity they have been given shelter and a place to be safe.
  • cheryl suttle AKRON, OH
    • 3 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Ive stayed at orange acres there a few years back. Jeff and his family opened their home and heart to myself.He never asked nothing, but in return, he made me realize that there are good in people, from all over. Ive never been to montana, but , I fell in love with God's big blue sky, and the mountains. I was ay home and peace.because of Jeff and his kindness, I now pay it forward. Please, let him keep this piece of Heaven.
    Sincerely,
    Cheryl Wagoner
  • jeff daniel MISSOULA, MT
    • 4 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    The county has no right or business involving themselves in Mr halvorsons affairs. He should be able to have anyone he wants over at any time and should have to explain nothing. If the commissioners are so worried about pollution maybe the question should be raised why it allows the city of Missoula to continue to co taminate the Clark fork with its waste. Typical liberal double standard. Attitudes not fit for leadership. This make up the rules as you go along mentality needs to stop and those who are actively engaged in this behavior who represent the city and county of Missoula should be ashamed. Can't believe these people were ever elected in the first place. They are lucky they aren't bring sued over this reckless administration and over reach of power. But as I said earlier, typical liberal.
  • shane arsenault MISSOULA, MT
    • 4 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    When I was finished with cancer treatments and moved to Montana Jeff gave me a place to stay until I got on my feet. Thanks jeff!
  • Aaron Babino PENNSVILLE, NJ
    • 4 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Jeff Halvorson helps more people than any other single individual I have ever met. Special exception should be made to these ordinances based on his charity.
  • Kevin Thorne IDAHO SPRINGS, CO
    • 5 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are guaranteed in our declaration of independence and can't be taken away by politicians.
  • Michael Friedman MISSOULA, MT
    • 5 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Jeff is an ASSET to our community. We need 100, no, 1000 Jeff's in Missoula County. We should be blessing this man rather than punishing him. This needs to be dropped RIGHT NOW!!!
  • Thelma Taylor VICTOR, MT
    • 5 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I've met Jeff and seen what he has accomplished with few resources. He has a big heart, provides a safe, clean and warm place for travelers and local people alike. To be treated the way he has by Missoula County is unconscionable. I wholly support Jeff's effort in trying to get the county to do the right thing. If the County would work with Jeff and give a little, he'd give ten times more back to society, which is 100% more than the County is currently doing.
  • john Thayer MISSOULA, MT
    • 6 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I stayed at Orange Acres while I was working in Missoula temporarily and it really helped me out
  • Tim Kellenyi MAPLEWOOD, NJ
    • 6 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Orange Acres is helping Missoula County. Jeff provides a noble service. Stop the war on compassion!
  • Zachary Ray WILLISTON, ND
    • 6 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Jeff helped me out when I needed it most
  • Lance Clemons LONSDALE, MN
    • 6 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    I have stayed at Orange Acres, and have to with Jeffery on many issues, we even went on a hike through the mountains; a memory and adventure and a place in Montana that will last a life time. My God bless Jeffery and Orange Acres, may His blessing and His countenance always shine upon you. Amen!
  • Natalee Lence MISSOULA, MT
    • 6 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Jeff is a friend of mine and what he does for the community is very selfless and important. He's a great guy with a big heart.
  • Monika Estermann LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND
    • 6 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    He was very generous to us and welcomed us into his house
  • Emily Kogan-Young FREEDOM, ME
    • 7 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff is a generous, incredibly kind person who gives a refuge to countless people on the road.
  • Jilaine Callison MISSOULA, MT
    • 8 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Because NO ONE has the right to stop a person from having guests in his or her home. Just NOT YOUR BUISINESS, so butt out.
  • Jane Bergman MISSOULA, MT
    • 8 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Am tired of everyones *Right* to live happy and FREE being ground into nothing,,,
  • Melinda Fite STEVENSVILLE, MT
    • 8 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    We are too overregulated as citizens!
  • Patricia Sweeton BUNNELL, FL
    • 8 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Here they (goverement) wanting something by lets play the bully card. I hope you all the best Jeff
  • Veronica Satalich TIGARD, OR
    • 8 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    For those of us that know how amazing Montana is, please rethink your position. Show the rest of the world that Big Sky country = Big Heart country, please !
  • Franchesa Kirkpatrick NASHVILLE, TN
    • 9 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff does great things for many people:)
  • Katherine Hanson FRISCO, CO
    • 9 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I had a lovely stay at Orange Acres a few years ago. The couchsurfing project is such a great way to connect with people from all over the world - we should do everything we can to foster that.
  • William Fultz TACOMA, WA
    • 9 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Without the caring support that Jeffrey Halvorson and Orange Acres provided my family and I (at no charge) There is no way that we would have been able to make it in Missoula. I witnessed countless people and families come through Orange Acres during our time there. Without Jeffrey's support many if not all would have been left to live on the streets with their children. There should be more people like him in the world but there aren't. I cannot fathom the idea that anyone would sue him for helping mankind and careing about people. Please grant Orange Acres a Variance, drop this ridiculous lawsuit and cease harassing him so that he can continue to help the people for which there are no sort of City or State run programs and sue someone else who is actually doing something wrong.
  • Kimberly Beatty MISSOULA, MT
    • 9 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff has done so much good for this community! Stop tying his hands and start focusing On some of the serious issues in this town!!!
  • Whitney Reed MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, UNITED STATES MINOR OUTLYING ISLANDS
    • 9 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    He helped me in a tight spot, a wonderful generous human being!
  • Jaromír Mazák PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, CZECH REPUBLIC
    • 9 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff let me and my girlfriend stay at his place when we were travelling around the US. Not only did he provide us with shelter. We also witnessed his generosity with people who really were in need of help. It was under Jeff's roof that I realized some aspects of American culture and heritage. Jeff is a person who gives second chance to those who need it allowing them to start over. A man like him should be supported, not undermined and harassed.
  • Donald Truax JAMAICA PLAIN, MA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    3
  • Alexander Hjelt POST FALLS, ID
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    He gave me more to love about life when i was 13 years old
  • Andrew Hendrickson WALLA WALLA, WA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Orange Acres gave me a place to stay on a bike tour across the US.
  • Kyle Cole MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff is a good guy and should be able to do as he wishes with his land to help people.
  • Damian Watson ALBERT PARK, AUSTRALIA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I’m dumfounded that local authorities aren’t motivated to sit down with Jeff to work out a solution. Whilst I am a long way from this situation (an Australian currently living in Finland) I have met Jeff and can’t fault his intentions and good will.
    Jeff’s genuine and kind-hearted intentions should be applauded (and some may argue, rewarded) and most County’s would love to have an upstanding citizen like Jeff to inspire their constituents through positively impacting the lives of those less fortunate.
    Proactive, big-thinking, positive people like Jeff should be supported. It is people like Jeff who drive innovative thinking, challenge the status quo and inspire the community
    With the underlying reason for his actions to help people less fortunate than himself the county should be working in tandem with Jeff to find a positive solution for all.
  • monica donofrio WATSONVILLE, CA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff helped me out before.
  • Eric Bayle FRANCE
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff deserves a big support for his generosity that is not understood by some.
  • Karen Randles RONAN, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I believe it is important for citizens to have some rights on their own property.
  • Vickey Bibee VICTOR, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I understand what Jeff is doing and God puts angels on earth for a purpose. I used to take in teens when I was able. He should be praised not hendered.
  • Jason Pinchotto MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Its important because of all the good that was and can be done. Also Jeffrey Halvorson is a good man who is doing a good thing!
  • Sandra Getschman MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    God Bless this man who is willing to give of himself to help others. We should have more like him.
  • Diana Sanchez MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    This person is helping other people out where no one else will ... SO why is he being made to shut down? HE IS HELPING PEOPLE.. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?
  • Robert Johnson MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    It seems like he is being fined an unnecessary amount of money and could use some relief here...
  • rande walton DAYTON, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    To much government in our lives
  • Steve Barnett SANTA FE, NM
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff has gone way beyond what most county Commissioners would request of a citizen in their county under the same circumstances.
  • Brian King NEVADA CITY, CA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I stayed at Orange Acres once and I am eternally grateful for the support and communal connection I was offered there during my brief stay. I desire to help out as best I can.
  • Brian Sullivan MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I don't want to live in a country where people are not allowed to help one another, that is the definition of 'un-American' as far as I am concerned!
  • Alia Floren MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I'm a couchsurfer! My husband knows Jeff, and I know that he is a valuable community member.
  • Jesse Hart EUGENE,, OR
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff is a good and generous man.
  • Timothy Emmons OAKDALE, MN
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Very great person, we need more like him!
  • Javier Bautista MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff and his Orange Acres project is a tremendous asset for Missoula County. Jeff has unconditionally helped endless people, who will forever keep Missoula in their hearts, as the place where someone gave them everything he had, never asking anything in return. Out there, all over the world, there is a lot of people who owe so much to Jeff. I am also one of them. Missoula County should be thank you for all what Jeff has done for the name and spirit of Missoula.
  • Thoma Partyka COLONIA, NJ
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff is an inspiration. He helped me out big time a few years ago. I hope that Missoula County can find it in their hearts to work with Jeff on whatever issues they may have with him, as he is a great asset to the community.
  • Melanie Hardy NEW ORLEANS, LA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I stayed at Orance Acres a few years back on my way back from the west coast and saw how helpful this place is to those in need. It inspired me to do whatever I can to help others. I hope this helps stop this unjust punishment and that more people can stay at Orange acres in the future to learn from this sacred place.
  • Alia Norman TORBAY, CANADA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    my grandfather was this kind man.
    Barbara, who sent this to me has stayed with this gentleman. She is a social worker in a large Toronto hospital for children. She would not support this is the place was unsafe or unseemly. As a community, shouldn't Montana owe this man something? He is providing an incredible service
  • Leyla Aykin GAINESVILLE, FL
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff hosted me and a caravan of fellow travelers during a particularly cold night while we were passing through Missoula on an impromptu roadtrip a few years ago. He took us in, four of us, housed us, fed us and was a great host. He should have every right to keep hosting and helping others, and I support him fully.
  • Morgan Varner CORALVILLE, IA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff just wants to help people. There are plenty of people who are causing actual problems for society, and the law should concern itself with them instead of a guy who just wants to feed and house the unfortunate.
  • Rachel Resin YPSILANTI, MI
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I don't know this man, but I have friends who do, and reading this story makes my heart go out to him. He sounds like a wonderful person, and nobody should be persecuting him for safely and responsibly helping other people. Please have a heart and drop these absurd charges!
  • Elene Schizas SOUTHFIELD, MI
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Homelessness is not acceptable, and it is our society who must look into ending the cycle of poverty. In the meanwhile, taking away a safe place for those who are struggling in our society, in our economy or life in general is really a crime against humanity.
  • Andrew Verkouw LANCASTER, PA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Because I support people being able to choose the way they live on the land they own. I also am vehemently against government agencies taking advantage of law abiding citizens.
  • Mac Olsen CHEYENNE, WY
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    As I understand this is on a no-covenanted lot. Who gives the MCC the authority to change laws after being approved? Where is the grand-fathered clause that our constitution protects? What is this person harming? He is helping out people that otherwise might come under government assistance.
  • Laura Daun PAHRUMP, NV
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Let us find more important things to focus government time and tax dollars on, ones that will help not hinder our society.
  • Ken Uehara HONOLULU, HI
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I stayed over on Jeff's property as a couchsurfer. I met the others, families, who were out of luck and needed a place to stay; Jeff provided them with lodging. He does great and generous work there, and I'd really like for him to continue doing so.
  • Daniel Morris MISSOULA, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 2
    My Missoula government officials, please find ways to help Jeffrey obtain a grant variance without penalty! Jeffrey was tremendously generous and kind with his home when I first moved to this state three and a half years ago, knowing no one and having no idea how to orient myself to my new community. He opened his doors to me, set a wonderful gracious tone for my first impression of the people of Missoula, and helped so many other people while I was there. Please do everything you can to help him. He has helped so many people like me who now love and give back to the Missoula community! Please, let's do a good turn for him.
  • Didi Tanadjaja SAN DIEGO, CA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff loves helping people. Why not let him do what he loves?
  • ConnieSue Dickinson ESCONDIDO, CA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff Halverson is a man that only wants to help his fellow man. He is generous with what little he has only for the County to try to shut down a "facility" that is will to temporarily house, feed, and do anything he can to help someone get back up on his/her feet. This man should be honored, not crucified. Shame on the county staff... I don't understand their motivation to persecute this Good Samariton!
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    The world need more People like him.
  • Peg Cadigan FREDONIA, WI
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    When traveling Jeff helped a friend in need whose other plans had been cancelled at the last minute. Jeff has tried to comply and it's clear that regulations are being altered for punitive use by the Missoula County Commissioners against Jeff.-
  • Mary Boyle PORT WASHINGTON, WI
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Good should always prevail.
  • Rolf Landaas DRøBAK, NORWAY
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    He is doing a great thing and need no obstacles.
  • Michael Gibowski WEST BEND, WI
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    A friend of mine loves this guy.
  • Brandon Vigil VALDOSTA, GA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    We need more people like this in the world. Best of luck! Hang in there!
  • Torill Aas OSLO, OSLO, NORGE, NORWAY
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    dont punish a good hearth
  • Sui Huang VENICE, FL
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I've been to Jeff's place Orange Acres for my Couchsurfing. Jeff is a good guy, I am on his side.
  • oscar la fuente LIMA, PERU
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff embodies the change he wishes to see in the world.”
  • Tom Summers PANAMA, PANAMA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I am a Couch Surfer
  • Caleb Trainor FREDONIA, WI
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff saved my butt not once but twice. I was traveling west with several good friends and when we got into Missoula at 8.30 pm we found our hosting arrangements had changed. Jeff responded immediately, taking us in. He shared lodging, food and even offered us clean clothes. On our way traveling home we had vehicle issues, and Jeff once again allowed us to stay long enough to get our affairs in order. Jeff was a heck of a host. And I'll be damned if they shut orange acres down.
  • Akshay Shinde BOZEMAN, MT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I stayed with Jeff when I was on break from college and I have never met anyone like him. He is one the most caring and helpful person I have had the fortune of calling my friend. He had done nothing wrong to deserve this kind of treatment from the county. As a matter of fact they should be thanking him and helping him to do more good work.
  • Yana Guitberg TORONTO, CANADA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff's hospitality and kind heart went a long way for me and my friends. I will do anything I can to help him out. He does not deserve this unfair treatment.
  • Benno Hirschi SCHANGNAU, SWITZERLAND
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff has hosted me for several days while I cycled around the US. He's a great guy who means well and helps an incredible amount of people.
  • Mark Driver LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff saved my ass!!
    I was in a position of real vulnerability having just got off a plane from Mexico City to find that my backpack hadn't arrived.
    I was without a place to stay or cash. However, I managed to contact Jeff using a borrowed phone. He picked me up soon after from the airport, took me to his house, fed me a delicious sandwich, let me sleep in his front room (with cat for company). The next day Jeff took me back to the airport and thank God my pack had arrived!
    He dropped me back on the motorway and I head off towards the Rainbow Gathering in Montana.
    He is a great guy. I am so appalled that the establishment would try to stop him from doing all the amazing things that he does.
    He went the extra mile for me - let's do the same for him now.
    Thank you Jeff!!!
    Mark
  • Barbara Neilson TORONTO, CANADA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    We stayed with Jeff this past year, and were very thankful for his hospitality.From what I could see he was not causing any harm, nor were his guests.
  • Todd Santos OCEAN BEACH, CA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Sounds like the county is full of s***
  • Jon Hudson AUSTRALIA
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff opened his home to my girlfriend and I and he is one of the kindest people we have both met. What he is doing is amazing and not many people have a heart as big as his
  • Lisa Bates PROVO, UT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    The homeless are not able to just evaporate themselves into nonexistence, no matter how politically correct that might be. This man has been doing a public service by helping them, and it is not right that the public entities should conspire to hurt him like this.
  • Debra Ilunga SPRINGVILLE, UT
    • 10 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff embodies TBP values,why would anyone want to do anything to hinder his efforts."Jeff embodies the change he wishes to see in the world",the state should be giving him money to help in his efforts not taking.
  • Thelma Taylor VICTOR, MT
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I've met Jeff and I've seen what he so selflessly does. Jeff's situation needs to be addressed on its merits, and not by a textbook approach. Work with him, Missoula County. He deserves better than you have dished out so far.
  • Thomas Hinderman NORTH BRANCH, MN
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Being sued for helping people is just wrong. Leave him alone and let him do with his property as he wishes.
  • Jennifer Hennemann PRINCETON, MN
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    People like this should be thanked for helping others, not fined!
  • J. Kevin Hunt OREGON CITY, OR
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    As a hometown Missoulian who will be returning to that hometown as his residence soon, as an advocate for the defenseless and oppressed, and simply as a human being, I stand with Mr. Halvorson and his brothers and sisters. I call upon Missoula County to reasonably accommodate Mr. Halvorson's endeavor, remit and exonerate all fines and forfeitures, and directly address the problems for which Mr. Halvorson has tirelessly attempted to provide a partial solution.
  • Jackson McKee MISSOULA, MT
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I've known Jeff since I was a kid. He's an honest genuine nice person. This lawsuit is absolutely absurd.
  • andrew fox BIGFORK, MT
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    To:
    Jean Curtiss, Missoula County Commisioner
    M. Landquist, Missoula County Commissioner
    B. Carey, Missoula County Commisioner
    Montana Governor
    Please grant Jeffrey-James Halvorson a variance from all permit requirements at Orange Acres and drop the lawsuit, or pay him for the approximately 5 years that you have harassed him. He has made every effort to do what is right on all accounts and not only has his inalienable right to happiness, but deserves his rights to property.
    Sincerely, Andrew J. Fox
  • Michael Stephens BEVERLY HILLS, MI
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff is the most compassionate individual I've ever met and Orange Acres is a beautiful and brilliant idea. Jeff and OA really really helped me out last summer, as they have for countless other travelers. It's completely absurd that the county is trying to give Jeff so much trouble for helping people. Let's put an end to this nonsense and let the man keep being a saint on earth.
  • Christy Barker 545 RHYMN ST, MT
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    He has a heart for the world and deserves a break!
  • Christy Barker 545 RHYMN ST, MT
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    He has a heart for the world and deserves a break!
  • Nathaniel Smith MISSOULA, MT
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    I have been helped by this place.
  • Chris Barker UNION GROVE, NC
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeffery is a nice guy and loves to help out others in need, let's put a stop to this government harassment.
  • kyla baruch PLAINS, MT
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Private property rights are being violated for Mr. Galveston. Change that now, please.
  • Michael Reddy-Miller ATLANTA, GA
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Jeff embodies the change he wishes to see in the world.
  • Jeri estes CHEYENNE, WY
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Such a wonderful thing your doing!
  • Cassandra Vigil VALDOSTA, GA
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 1
    Until recently, I enjoyed living out West (in Wyoming and Montana) and really miss the friendliness, honesty, and genuine hard work ethic of the local people that I came to know and love. I believe that Jeff of Orange Acres projects the spirit of what "Westeners" should be: there to help through work and creating a close community, which he has done by inviting all, whether they live close by or far away, to stay Orange Acres. In addition, "The West" that I know places emphasis on individual rights and I believe that what the Missoula County Commissioners have done to Jeff and Orange Acres is an abomination to our American rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Commissioners appear to have a power hungry mentality that ignores the fundamental rights of the members of their community and when people who hold such positions become as selfish and corrupted, as the Commissioners appear to be, they must be stopped. Because of this, I gladly sign the petition in support of Orange Acres to have their Property Improvement Permits reinstated and to fight against the frivolous lawsuit that the "Missoula County" has imposed on Jeff and Orange Acres.
  • Marci Olsen ELDORADO AT SANTA FE, NM
    • 11 months ago 
    •   Liked 0
    Thank you all for taking the time to help someone who has helped so many others!