Sheela's Story Sheela* left home at age eighteen. She describes herself as having been a good kid. She was an A-student, went to church, and did what her parents expected of her. In high school, Sheela became the target of a sexual predator. “He was someone I knew and trusted,” Sheela confides. “He groomed me for a long time. I didn't realize how abusive of a situation I … [Read more...]
How Drug Addiction and Homelessness are Intertwined
When someone is faced with addiction, they often can’t control the fate of their living situation as most, if not all, of their focus is solely on obtaining and using drugs they have become dependent on. When this happens, people with substance use disorders can sometimes find themselves homeless and living on the streets. The connection between addiction and homelessness is … [Read more...]
Inside Heroin Addiction and Homelessness in Salt Lake City
If a lighthouse were planted on Lookout Peak above Salt Lake City, you could trace the lambency of its beacon in a southwestern direction down the mountainside, across the polished spires of the Mormon temple, through the glass façade of Vivint Arena, and finally into the Block, where the light would disperse and settle like falling snow. The Block is the gathering place for … [Read more...]