The Voice of Local Utah

Investigation

Why More Homeless Spending Is Resulting in More Homeless People

Most non-profit organizations receive funds from the government thanks to its taxing power. However, despite all this funding they fail to provide safe care to the very ones they are supposed to help.

by

Richard Markosian

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Danielle Ahn is running for Salt Lake County District Attorney. Working closely with the homeless resource providers she has some inside knowledge about how the “homeless industrial complex” is operating, providing huge amounts of money to homeless service providers without providing services to homeless individuals. She describes the operation as a “revolving door” between government agencies handing out money and non-profits receiving the funds. 

“The homeless industrial complex is actually a term that I coined. That, I’m really glad is picking up speed, because what you have is you have non-profit organizations that benefit from homelessness. They have no incentive to actually help the people.” states Ahn.

Most non-profit organizations receive funds from the government thanks to its taxing power. However, despite all this funding they fail to provide safe care to the very ones they are supposed to help. For example, in some facilities, people are allowed to bring in drugs but not their medication.

So Utah Stories asks, why is it that tenants at facilities such as the Gail Miller Homeless Resource Center are not able to bring their prescription drugs into the facilities but illegal street drugs are getting inside?

And why are self-reliable non-profits like the Otherside Academy ostracized by government-funded organizations?

Utah Stories will continue to investigate.

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Richard Markosian

I am a story teller and journalist. I have a passion for farmers, local craftspeople, and folks who aspire to create, build and grow their business in the local marketplace. Why local? By supporting locally-owned businesses we create more opportunity for entrepreneurs, and we claim our sovereignty to shape our communities how we want to see them. I aspire to build Utah Stories Magazine into a household Utah name, and assist Utah businesses and makers with marketing. On the journalism side of things my passion is investigative journalism that offers true insight into issues. I believe strongly in the forth estate: strong, meaningful, insightful journalism is essential to a free market Democracy.

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