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On any given night last winter, family violence forced more than 500 people out of their homes — a statistic that highlights the importance of Lloyd S. Pendleton's efforts to ensure the streets aren't the only alternative for homeless Utahns.
For his work as director of the state's Homeless Task Force, Pendleton on Wednesday received the 2011 public official award from the YWCA. This is the 13th official honored by the YWCA, which assists women and children fleeing domestic violence.
"To create positive social change we need principled, compassionate public officials who are unafraid to work on some of the hardest issues facing Utah families today," said Anne Burkholder, YWCA chief executive officer, in a written statement. "We honor him for his humanitarianism and his commitment to improving the lives of women and their families."
The YWCA presents the award each year as part of its "Week Without Violence" campaign, a series of events designed to educate and encourage conversations about how to solve family violence.
Pendleton has said he became inspired to work on homelessness after attending a national conference on the issue. In 2004, Pendleton was working for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints developing its humanitarian programs, when former Utah Gov. Olene Walker asked that he be loaned to the state to develop a 10-year plan to end homelessness.
That plan was approved in March 2005. Pendleton retired in 2006 and accepted the director's post at the state to implement the plan. In 2009, Pendleton received a prestigious Purpose Prize, given to people over age 60 who embark on "encore" careers dedicated to solving social problems. At the time, Pendleton said he wanted to "inspire others to begin looking at the homeless issue with fresh eyes."
As director, he has led a "Housing First" initiative that places chronically homeless individuals in housing and aims to keep them there with supportive services. Advocates credit the program with achieving a 68 percent reduction in Utah's chronically homeless numbers. He also has pushed focusing on helping families to avoid homelessness.