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SALT LAKE CITY — Partnering with the state and Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County will temporarily help cover the operating costs of the Road Home's emergency family homeless shelter.
The Salt Lake County Council voted Tuesday to appropriate $200,000 to help cover the Midvale Center's operating costs until new state funding becomes available in July.
The other partners — contributing a total of $510,000 — include Salt Lake City, which will appropriate $30,000, and the state Department of Workforce Services, which will contribute $275,000 from TANF (federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Family funds) and the Pamela Atkinson Trust Fund.
Carlton Christensen, Salt Lake County's regional development director, said private funding may likely be available as well.
The Midvale Center, a new emergency homeless shelter for families that opened in November, was permitted to operate seasonally under a conditional use permit granted by the Midvale City Council.
But the Utah Legislature, during its recent general session, passed SB169, which prohibits municipalities from enforcing ordinances that prohibit homeless shelters from operating year-round as part of a comprehensive strategy to better address homelessness statewide.
The Road Home had planned to close the new shelter at the end of March or in early April and had not budgeted for operating costs beyond that date.
Funding for the Housing and Homeless Reform Initiative passed by the Utah Legislature that appropriated $9.25 million during its recent session to fund the first of a three-year statewide Housing and Homeless Reform Initiative should become available after July 1.
McAdams said it is hoped that a portion of the funding — a combination of state and federal funds — can be used for fixed costs at the Midvale Center related to year-round operation such as adding air conditioning or safety improvements.
"It's really about helping people move through the system without having a negative impact on the community," McAdams said.
The mayor said conversations are ongoing with community partners to help provide programming for children when school is not in session.
County Councilman Richard Snelgrove suggested that youths staying at the shelter become involved in youth sports leagues. "It would be a great opportunity to get them in the right place doing the right thing rather maybe than distracted elsewhere," he said.
