The Rev. Brigette Weier, of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, speaks as faith leaders urge Salt Lake County government officials to use federal funds for housing to reduce homelessness for families, people with disabilities and senior citizens in Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 8, 2021. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Faith leaders from the Coalition of Religious Communities set up tents outside the Salt Lake County Government Center in Salt Lake City on Thursday as they asked county officials to end homelessness by allocating $45 million of the federal funding the county will receive through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Five of the nine members of the Salt Lake City Council attended, along with representatives from Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson’s office.
Through ARPA, passed in March 2021, Salt Lake County will receive $225 million in federal funds over the next two years to be invested into the community to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This act includes funds targeted to fight homelessness as well as resources for extending unemployment benefits, issuing $1,400 payments to individuals, emergency paid leave, expanding the child tax credit, increased education funding and grants to small businesses and local governments, as well as other relief programs.
The coalition is asking for 20% of those funds to go toward producing housing needed to reduce homelessness for families, people with disabilities and senior citizens.
“A chance like this does not come around often,” said Ebony Tyler, of Granger Community Christian Church. “We can no longer wait. Homelessness does not discriminate. It could happen to any of us.”
Coalition leaders cited the success of Utah’s Housing First program, which emphasizes housing unhoused people first, then focusing on meeting their other needs once they have the safety and stability of having a place to live.
The Rev. Brigette Weier, of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, read John 14:2 from the Bible: “In my house, there are many mansions.”
“There is indeed room for everyone. We know this. There is a space of love and security and dignity for all people,” she said. “There is room for everyone, and there is a room for everyone.”
The idea is to use the funds to cover the upfront expenses of infrastructure, such as creating permanent housing for low-income families, renovating motels, creating more shelter space and investing in drug treatment.
The money would come back later in the form of a healthier community and economy, the Rev. Weier added.
“No one deserves to be sleeping on the streets, especially in harsh weather conditions during a global pandemic. Everyone is entitled to proper housing no matter their situation. No matter the choices they have made,” Tyler said in a press release.
Tyler faced housing insecurity as a child and knows the shame and humility that came with that experience. People assume those around them are taken care of, but in reality, every day more people lose their homes to eviction, failing health, job loss and many other reasons, she explained.
“I remember how heavy the room would grow when faced with another eviction notice,” …read more
Source:: Deseret News – Utah News
Stock Market: Suez Canal Update! Floating!
The Suicide Squad | Official IMAX® Red Band Trailer
From the horribly beautiful mind of James Gunn and filmed in IMAX. Experience