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Letter: Utah and Salt Lake City have an opportunity to lead on resolving homelessness

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A homeless man packs up his belongings as fencing surrounds the former site of the Sears Store in downtown Salt Lake City on Oct. 26, 2022.

The Salt Lake Tribune editorial on homelessness nailed both the problems and the potential solutions.

Isolated approaches by governmental and nongovernmental entities working toward the same goal are failing in Utah and across the country. Instead, the key is a comprehensive, coordinated effort around housing and support services for our homeless residents. And learning what’s working (and what isn’t) in other cities only strengthens our ability to respond and resolve this complex issue.

I hope the Legislature adopts the governor’s budget, listens to the knowledgeable voices and partners working to address homelessness, and commits the necessary funding for meaningful solutions.

Utah and Salt Lake City have an opportunity to lead locally and nationally on this issue — resolving homelessness in our own communities through innovation and collaboration, and serving as a model for other communities to do the same.

Ralph Becker, Salt Lake City mayor from 2008-2015

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