'Step up' and contribute to homeless trust fund on tax forms, Herbert says


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SALT LAKE CITY — When you're a homeless addict who has lost custody of your children, it's hard to imagine that anyone cares about you, says Rachel Santizo.

"I didn't care about myself, so I didn't think there was anything out there that cared about me," she said.

So it was with some trepidation that she walked into the Fourth Street Clinic the first time. There she found people she could confide in, help for her health concerns and mental health issues, and a do-over in life.

Santizo has a home, is in recovery and has custody of her children. On top of that, she's become a staunch advocate for the Fourth Street Clinic, now serving on its Consumer Advisory Board.

On Thursday, she urged Utahns, when preparing their state income taxes, to contribute to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund.

"It's not hard to check a box and give a couple of dollars. All you have to do is check the box. You don't even have that money yet. It's not a couple of dollars you'll be missing while these people are missing everything. They have nothing. If you're in a position to do something and help, just give a couple of dollars," Santizo said.

The sentiment was echoed by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who joined community advocate Pamela Atkinson at the clinic Thursday to urge Utahns to contribute generously to the fund. All contributions go directly to more than 30 service providers statewide that work with individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

"It's important we reach out there and help our brothers and sisters. I believe that," said Herbert, his voice breaking with emotion.

"I am a man of faith. I believe in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man and the sisterhood of man. We are all in this together, and we need to work together to solve some of these challenges and help our fellow man to have a better life. We can do that. We have the ability to do it," he said.

Atkinson said she marveled at the progress of members of the clinic's Consumer Advisory Board, some of whom she met on Volunteers of America-Utah homeless outreach programs that receive funds from the tax checkoff program.

"I've seen them at their lowest point and then to see them sitting here articulating and being so eloquent with the governor of the state of Utah and sharing their stories where they've come from. They're now active and contributing member of the community, of the Consumer Advisory Board of the Fourth Street Clinic," she said.

While contributions to the fund had declined in recent years, Utahns contributed $59,798 on their 2014 income tax forms, up more than $11,000 from the previous year's contributions.

Atkinson said more work needs to be done with certified public accountants and tax preparers to remind taxpayers of the option of contributing to the homeless trust or other programs.

The next step is working with developers of tax filing software, she said.

Herbert said all Utahns have a duty to spread the word about the fund and encourage others to contribute.

"We need to realize, in spite of our healthy economy, which is the best in America today, that we have people who are struggling out there. … All of us have a duty to make people aware and say, 'There's an opportunity for you to give back to the community to help your fellow man.' This is one way to do it. Step up," Herbert said.

Contributions to the trust are leveraged with state and federal funds. For instance, a $4 contribution to the fund becomes $12, which can pay for a day of shelter, according to the Department of Workforce Services.

Mary Hogle-Jahn, chairwoman of the clinic's Consumer Advisory Board, said the Fourth Street Clinic, which is one homeless services provider that receives funding from the homeless trust, helped her move out of homelessness and restore her health.

"The Pamela Atkinson Fund benefits the shelters, the food banks, the clinics, the mental health issues, the VOA. It helps everybody, and she doesn't play favorites," Hogle-Jahn said.

"Without it, we wouldn't have come from just being a clinic to having comprehensive health care head to toe."

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