A resource center is not a homeless shelter, and that helps explain their $63 million price tag. Was this a good investment? We will get to that later in the story, but first I would like to know: What do young homeless people think about these new centers? Fairmont Park “Jessica” is a homeless millennial. She says she is “homeless by choice.” “It’s the choices I … [Read more...]
Inspiration for Life
News of Death Every city has a place where the downtrodden congregate. In Salt Lake, Pioneer Park is that place. I would see drug use and violence, but on one spring day I saw something new. A man in a chef toque was meditating under a tree. I saw him there daily. My curiosity grew and one day I sat in silence beside him. After awhile he turned and smiled at me with a sublime … [Read more...]
Downtown Salt Lake: Out With the Old, In With the New
A Downtown Renaissance? It’s an exciting time for Downtown Salt Lake City. Five high-rise buildings are poised to redefine the capital city’s skyline in 2020 with apartments, hotel rooms, office space, and retail; new bars and restaurants are opening up on every street; an influx of young professionals are moving to the area to take advantage of it all. This is on top of the … [Read more...]
Food Not Bombs: More Than an Event, It’s a Lifestyle
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...]