Families with children are among the fastest growing division of homeless in America, according to the National Coalition for Homeless. Utah County is no different.

"This year, we've had 208 families with housing needs, and that's up 50 more families than the year before," said Myla Dutton, executive director of Community Action Services of Utah, Wasatch and Summit Counties.

Dutton said one of the causes of family homelessness is layoffs. Other reasons may include rent increases or medical crises.

"Typically, these are people who never thought they would be in this circumstance," Dutton said.

But for those who may find themselves homeless one day, there is hope.

Community Action Services is one of the two main services to homeless people. This organization helps families find emergency, temporary and permanent housing in addition to helping families stay in their rented apartments.

Another service is The Food and Care Coalition in Provo, which serves homeless singles.

The Food and Care Coalition provides hot meals, showers and laundry facilities, along with other programs.

These two, along with the United Way of Utah County, The Continuum of Care, which is comprised of dozens of community organizations, have a similar goal in mind - to end homelessness in Utah.

"We don't offer long-term things," said Mike Mower, director of community and governmental relations in Provo. "We try to help bridge temporary gaps in their lives, and that's kind of been our focus - to provide some food and some job training and support, but we do that in conjunction with several community groups."

Housing Woes

In light of the recent grant installment given to No More Homeless Pets in Utah, one may wonder where Utah's priority's lie.

The fourth yearly installment of $2.16 million is part of a $9 million grant from Maddie's Funds to end homelessness for animals.

"If we can do that for animals, we certainly should be able to do it for people," said Brent Crane, executive director of Food and Care Coalition.

Even with the combined efforts of key organizations, Utah County still has no homeless shelter.

Current facilities only offer short-term shelter in various hotels.

"This is the deal - we need something better than we have," Crane said. "They need a place where they can live, work, and are trained and given skills. That's the kind of housing."

But Crane said he recognizes the many issues related to getting a Utah County shelter.

"Some don't want to attract it from other communities," he said. "Some don't want it because they don't want to deal with it. Others don't know where they would put it."

In addition, Crane said the homeless services can barely meet the financial needs they have right now.

"Say we got $2 million to build this complex," he said. "We still have to find money to maintain it."

Because homelessness wears many faces - from a college student living in a car to a mentally ill man sleeping on a concrete sidewalk - there are many different solutions said Bill Hulterstrom, president of United Way and chair of Mountainland Continuum of Care.

"The issue is far more complex than it sounds on the surface," Hulterstrom said.

One of the main solutions is to provide stable housing arrangements for the homeless.

And Hulterstrom said the numbers for transitional housing units has increased dramatically over the years.

Craig Hiatt, director of Adult Services at Wasatch Mental Health, said one solution isn't going to end homelessness.

"The bigger problem is that there is not enough low-cost housing," he said.

Hiatt said housing costs depend on whether the company is out to make profit or out to provide.

He said the Continuum of Care has been a huge help in creating more low-cost housing.

"It's helped fund 25 or more apartments that wouldn't have been available without the Continuum," he said.

The facilities for domestic abuse victims are more extensive.

"We have our own facilities here, and most victims stay 30 days or more," said Kimberlee Kowallis, shelter manager, Center for Women and Children in Crisis in Provo.

Kowallis said the shelter helps about 700 people a year.

In Provo, fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $625 a month, according to Provo City Housing Authority, more than any other city in Utah County.

Currently, 920 people are on a two-year waiting list for subsidized housing in Utah County.

"We have no expectation in being able to assist any of them this year," said Sue Heath of the Utah County Housing Authority. "Most that come in want housing immediately."

Outreach

Homelessness can mean many things, but for most it means not having a roof overhead.

However, a decent covering isn't the only thing homeless lack.

Brent Crane, executive director of the Food and Care Coalition, said programs that focus on the individual needs of each person are what will prevent homelessness.

He said the coalition's motto is, "Charity at its practical best."

He said he thinks homeless programs must be relationship-based. Such programs include mentoring, community storehouses and work training.

"I think those are the types of programs that get to the core issue at hand," he said.

Some individuals Crane deals with are well educated - and he said those are the kinds who realistically have the skills and the background to make it.

Crane also said some of those on the streets or without housing don't know any better.

"The kind of lifestyle you lead will probably be similar to that of your parents," he said. "If you've been raised in poverty, and you're never shown the door on how to get out, oftentimes you'll remain there."

Crane believes some programs have lost sight of their goal.

"It's not like we can plug a homeless individual into a production line and get the same product every time," he said.

The Food and Care Coalition will be launching its first Web site this week. See www.foodandcare.com or www.foodandcare.org to learn more about its various programs and volunteer opportunities.



Copyright Brigham Young University 25 Jul 2003