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SOUTH JORDAN — As a downtown homeless shelter damaged by an earthquake awaits repairs, about 50 clients have been relocated to a vacant recreation center in South Jordan.
The Rescue Mission Salt Lake, a building run by a a faith-based nonprofit with drug addiction treatment services, has been sitting vacant while damage from the earthquake is assessed. The Salt Lake County’s homeless system already strained — with shelters functioning at- or near-capacity — city and county officials worked quickly to find a temporary place for about 50 of the Rescue Mission’s clients to stay.
On Thursday, the day after the quake, city and county officials declined to tell KSL where the clients had been relocated other than describing it as a “county-owned” building, citing privacy concerns of the men. But Saturday, South Jordan city officials posted a notice on their website stating the men had been housed in the Marv Jenson Recreation Center.
The decades-old gym, at 10300 S. Redwood Road, was shuttered last year, deemed too old and costly to renovate.
“Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson along with leaders of The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake City have exhausted all efforts to find adequate sheltering facilities,” the South Jordan notice states. “Due to the urgent need for housing these displaced persons, Marv Jensen Recreation Center will be used as a temporary shelter for the persons housed by The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake City.”
The city’s notice states the old recreation center is a “temporary” solution for the Rescue Mission, noting the majority of the men staying there are part of the mission’s “highly structured” inpatient treatment program.
Related:
South Jordan's Marv Jenson gym will close March 2020, county officials announce
The decades-old Marv Jenson Recreation Center, named after a now-deceased boxing legend and local politician, will shutter once and for all in less than a year.“Their plan is to run the program in the same manner as it was run in their downtown facility,” the notice states. “During the day, the men have morning and afternoon classes and required chores. For example, today the men were helping to clean the rec center. The men in the program do have days off in which they will be allowed to leave the rec center; however, they are required to sign out when they leave and sign in upon their return.”
The men who are not part of the treatment program and are individuals experiencing homelessness are “also allowed to leave during the day with the same requirements,” the notice states. “However, they are encouraging these individuals to stay in the facility during the day.”
City officials also noted the South Jordan Police Department visited with the Rescue Mission’s director “and had a very productive conversation.”
“One request from SJPD was if the Rescue Mission staff was willing to identify any individuals if there were problems in the community,” the notice states. “He affirmed to them that he would be very supportive and helpful in any way. The Rescue Mission staff is working with the South Jordan Police Department in identifying any individuals who may cause issues in the community.”
City officials also note the mission will be providing transportation for its clients for any service needs or job responsibilities away from the gym.
A city building inspector is expected to file a report outlining necessary repairs for the Rescue Mission’s downtown building. Though there is no timeline yet on when the building will be repaired, the Rescue Mission seeks to return to the downtown building “as soon as possible,” South Jordan officials said.
