When Keith McHenry’s phone rings, it may be people calling the Hunger Hotline. The toll free 800 number assists callers in locating their local Food Not Bombs chapters, offers tips on how to collect and cook food, how to start a local chapter, and what to do if the police try to stop your group from sharing food and other information about Food Not Bombs. “We receive from … [Read more...]
Did A Daily Show Story Flood Salt Lake City with Homeless?
Salt Lake City declared a victory over chronic homelessness in 2015. The main-stream media loved the story and flooded the airwaves and papers with stories informing everyone that Salt Lake was a stellar example. A story by the Daily Show with John Stewart said, “The homeless know can have a second shot at life, all that they have to is live in Utah.” KSL TV then aired a … [Read more...]
Sugar House Residents and Council Members on The Proposed Homeless Shelter
Salt Lake City mayor Jackie Biskupski announced in December that a 150-bed homeless shelter will be built near Sugar House’s Fairmont Park. Biskupski and Salt Lake City Council made the decision without public involvement. Biskupski says it's “Not up for debate. The decision of the location is final”. Three other shelters were announced—also to be built in suburban areas. Salt … [Read more...]
Utah’s Revolutionary Approach to Solving the Homelessness Problem
Utah has been in the news recently for the historically conservative state’s surprisingly liberal approach to solving their homelessness problems: the state’s government has been providing homeless people with permanent housing. Through the program Housing First, Utah places chronically homeless people, meaning people who have been without a home for at least a year or who … [Read more...]
Homeless in Salt Lake
People often reflexively assume that there’s a proportionate link between an increase in a homeless population and drug-related crime, but something more egregious is happening in the blocks near Salt Lake’s homeless shelters, and what residents and business owners are witnessing is shocking. Realtor Babs De Lay opened her Utah Urban Homes office on the corner of 200 S/400 … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving and the Utah Homeless Population
Thanksgiving is a time many people spend with their families at home and give thanks for what they have. That is…for those of us who have homes. In 2012, the number of homeless Utahns was 16,522, up 15 percent from the previous year. Contrary to popular belief, most homeless are not single adult men. Forty-five percent of the homeless population in Utah are members of … [Read more...]
Brother, Can you Spare a Twenty?
Utah Stories' Al Sachrov Experiments with Panhandling I was curious. It seems that at every intersection and interstate ramp in Salt Lake there are panhandlers. Mention that to a person and the urban myths abound - “They make thirty dollars an hour.” “They drive their Cadillacs to the job.” Et cetera. Et cetera. I wanted to know what this job entails. So I did it. One cold … [Read more...]