Help the homeless in the new year

Friday, Jan. 09, 2015

If you thought moving the Utah State Prison was controversial, just wait and see how welcoming communities are to proposed new facilities for the homeless in their neighborhood.  In fact, a recent informal radio poll showed people would rather have the prison in their backyard than a homeless shelter – prisoners are behind bars, after all.

News reports on two groups looking into the feasibility of moving homeless services in Salt Lake City away from the Gateway Mall highlight a desire to clean up the area around current homeless providers and build high-end residential units. The land around the Rio Grande Depot is certainly valuable real estate. The reports also note that crimes  such as drug deals, violence, and sexual assault occur near the Road Home shelter, Fourth Street Clinic, St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen and Weigand Day Center, which are all in that area.

But good happens as well. Service providers and the Salt Lake City Police Department work so well together to address the needs of the homeless that they have gained national attention as a model for other municipalities to follow. Police officers in the area understand that strong-arming a person with nowhere to go, little hope, and a drug addiction is not productive. Instead, they work with Catholic Community Services, Fourth Street Clinic, Volunteers of America, and the Road Home to find more long-term solutions to help those in need.

Unfortunately, these service providers and police officers can’t solve some of the systemic problems that contribute to homelessness. One example is that some people have lost their homes because of mountains of medical bills – an issue that could be addressed in part by Gov. Gary Herbert’s proposed Healthy Utah, but this is within the purview of the Utah Legislature, not Salt Lake City homeless providers and police.  

Similarly, changes in state laws that would provide more substance abuse and mental health treatment for drug offenders would positively impact the number of homeless ex-offenders, and is within the power of the state legislature. The legislature also has the power to protect and enhance budgets for state agencies such as the Department of Workforce Services that work with the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.   

Catholics in the pews have power as well. We have voices. Voices we are morally obligated to use to protect the lives and well-being of the poor. January is Poverty Awareness Month, and the start of the Utah legislative session, during which many decisions will be made that impact low income Utahns. The new year is a perfect time to get involved in advocacy on behalf of the poor and vulnerable.

To take action locally, join the diocese as we advocate:

• against a resolution calling for a federal constitutional convention to enact a balanced budget amendment in the U.S. Constitution, which will lead to massive cuts to assistance programs;

• for proposals that provide funding for services to low-income Utahns; 

• for health care plans that provide greater access to health care for Utahns living at or just above the poverty line; 

• against or for additional bills that will spring up during the session. 

For an up-to-date list of legislation the Diocese is following, with brief reasons for our support or opposition, visit http://www.dioslc.org/ministries/governmentliaison and click on the 2015 Legislative Priorities link.