After a legislative session that failed (in my opinion) to address basic human needs and, instead, debated the merits of personal lifestyle and “morals”, Utah citizens are still suffering from lack of services and resources. This article appeared in today’s Salt Lake Tribune:
Homelessness hits more Utah families: SLC’s largest shelter struggles to handle an unexpected surge
102 families….[took] up residence this winter at the Road Home in Salt Lake City – a 62 percent spike over last year, matched only by the winter preceding the Olympics. “We’re not seeing any trends,” said associate shelter director Michelle Flynn. “The families are larger and using up more nights. Most are local two- and single-parent families who, for whatever reason, have just fallen on hard times.” ….poverty and the lack of affordable housing are two growing trends, say low-income advocates.
While the media chooses to publicize the creation of more jobs on Utah, low-income advocates also point out that, yes, more jobs are being created……but for lower pay. The Federal government is reducing its rental assistance programs. Tim Funk, an advocate at Crossroads Urban Center, the state’s busiest food pantry, said Utah’s housing authorities lost 895 Section 8 rent vouchers to federal cuts last year, a 9 percent hit. More cuts are pending under President Bush’s proposed 2007 budget.
How you can help:
More than a third of the Road Home’s budget comes from private donations. To donate, call 359-4142.
The article in the Salt Lake Tribune has a chart that shows stats of the Road Home’s increase in clientel.
Thank you Chris Buttars and LaVarr Christiansen for taking up taxpayer dollars to use the legislative time to argue incessantly about issues that have no place in government, instead of addressing what our citizens really need.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 