This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In response to the April 23 news story by Courtney Tanner regarding the abandoned fire station in Ogden: I have to commend Ogden City officials for allowing an unused fire station to be transformed into a shelter that will help homeless families in the community get back on their feet.

The most inspiring part about this story is that the city officials have allowed the space to be used and renovated rent-free. I am amazed at the buy-in the City Council members have when it comes to the homeless population in Ogden and that people are doing something to help.

There has been a lot of controversy concerning new shelter sites in Salt Lake County, so seeing a news story like this one helps me to have more hope in the human race. As a social work student, I see the need for resources such as the one to be opened in Ogden in May.

Simply ignoring the homeless population has not done any good, and helping families and individuals who are less fortunate than others get back on their feet is a cause worth investing in.

Breanne Pixton

Sandy