Two homeless shelters in the Provo area have teamed up to fight homelessness in Utah Valley.

"We recently entered into a partnership with Community Action Services to help shelter more people and help more people with rent aid," said Brent Crane, executive director of the Utah Valley Food and Care Coalition.

As part of the partnership, each organization will focus on the needs of different groups of people.

"We typically focus on working with families who have children, whereas the Food and Care Coalition focuses more on individuals and couples," said Myla Dutton, executive director of Community Action Services. "By focusing on individual groups of people, both organizations can more effectively meet the needs of those in need."

Together, the organizations help more than 5,000 people annually, Crane said, most of whom are local residents who have come across hard times.

"Most of the help we give comes in the form of shelter, meals, hygiene products and most importantly, moral support for our clients," Dutton said.

The chief goal of both organizations is to get people established and help those in need attain steady employment, Dutton said.

"We don't just provide shelter and meals," Dutton said. "The programs that we're most excited about are work training programs and mentoring programs, programs that will help people get on their own two feet."

Crane said the shelters have teamed up in part because of the economic slowdown since the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

"The need is on the rise," Crane said.

Both organizations are independent, private charities that are, for the most part, supported by the community, Dutton said.

For information on volunteering, contact Dutton, (801) 373-7617, or Crane, (801) 373-1825.

Copyright Brigham Young University 21 Oct 2002