This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
While the Salt Lake City Council, Mayor Biskupski and many others deserve credit for their work on housing people who are homeless, the letter from the Rasmussens ("Our Sad Experience," Oct. 18) illustrates the numerous other factors involved with this issue. Homelessness is more than a matter of not having a house. It also means helping clients know how to maintain a household as well as being a good tenant and neighbor, obtaining and retaining a job, managing finances, accessing and continuing mental and physical resources and intervention for any number of other needs that will truly allow people in poverty to emerge into better lives.
Two other items to consider: First, these efforts can't be borne by The Road Home alone. Other groups, including businesses and government entities, need to step up with support for additional services, such as case management. Second, the proposal to build mini-shelters around the city came up during Rocky Anderson's administration and went nowhere because, among other things, residents on the east side strongly resisted it.
Homelessness will not be resolved until we all (public included) examine and engage in thorough discussions about preventive measures, affordable housing at the 30 to 40 percent area median income level and supportive services that quite possibly last for years. The findings of the recent commissions are a good start, but further work must include more than just shelter locations.
Karen Denton
Salt Lake City