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  • About
    • Our Board Members
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  • What We Do
    • Who We Serve
    • Emergency Food Pantries
    • Crossroads Thrift Store
    • Fighting Poverty >
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  • You Can Help!
    • Donate
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Press alert: Faith Leaders ask Governor and Legislative Leaders to find a way to fund additional housing units to reduce homelessness

9/12/2022

 
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​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   September 12, 2022
FOR MORE INFORMATION:   Bill Tibbitts at Crossroads Urban Center, 801-364-6655 ex. 107  bill@crossroadsurbancenter.org
 
Faith Leaders ask Governor and Legislative Leaders to find a way to fund additional housing units to reduce homelessness
 
On Monday, September 12, 2022, faith leaders from eight different faith traditions sent a joint letter to Governor Cox, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and the Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives and the member asking them to find a way to fund additional housing units to reduce homelessness. 
 
On Friday, September 9, the Utah Homelessness Council approved a proposal to spend $55 million to build 1,078 housing units across the state to reduce homelessness.  The letter notes that this important investment was able to fund less than half of the projects that applied, “It is our understanding that there were more than $120 million in proposals submitted for consideration and so there are several worthy projects that would make a big difference that will not be built without additional funding.”
 
Rev. Monica Dobbins of First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City notes, “Utah has a real opportunity to make a difference in affordable housing and reducing homelessness, in a time when its citizens really need that help. All that's required is the compassion and will to do it, and the creativity to use our resources to benefit everyday people.” 
 
Rev. Christine Higueria-Street of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Taylorsville explains why she signed the letter  in this way, "I feel it is important that our representatives to make sure that the state of Utah is a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse place to live by insuring that people can afford to live here, this means making sure we have affordable housing for all its citizens. "
 
Rev. Lora Young of South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society adds, “Safe, affordable housing is public good that everyone benefits from.   We have the opportunity to dramatically reduce homelessness with these funds- and potentially becoming a community that leads the way to a society where all may be housed safety and with dignity.”
 
The Rev Deacon Elizabeth Hunter of the Cathedral Church of St. Mark notes, “It is critical that faith communities support state and local initiatives for safe, affordable housing and related support services and case management for our brothers and sisters who need shelter."
 
Rev. David Nichols of Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church states, “"As Lutherans we join with other people of faith in imagining a world where no one becomes homeless because of mental or physical health conditions.  We celebrate the 1,078 units that will be made possible with the funding that is available but know there is a way to fund the projects bid for funding but did not get it."

In addition to being sent via email today, the letter will be presented in person tomorrow at the State Capitol Building during a meeting of the Utah Commission on Housing Affordability in Room 445 at 1:00 PM. 

The full text of the letter, and the agenda for the meeting on Tuesday, can be found below. A  PDF version of the letter can be found here.


September 12, 2022
 
re:  Funding for housing to reduce homelessness
 
Dear Commission on Housing Affordability, Governor Cox, Senate President Adams and House Speaker Wilson,
 
Last week the Utah Office of Homeless Services released recommendations for the use of the $55 million in American Rescue Act funds that the Utah Legislature set aside for deeply affordable housing. The recommendations are expected to produce 1,078 total affordable units with 679 of those units projected to be deeply affordable and 529 units specifically to be used to move people out of homelessness.  
 
It is our understanding that there were more than $120 million in proposals submitted for consideration and so there are several worthy projects that would make a big difference that will not be built without additional funding. The Coalition of Religious Communities urges the Commission to explore options for funding these extra projects, including:
  1. Determining if nondedicated ARPA funds placed in the transportation fund could be used for this purpose. It is our understanding the about $1 billion in ARPA funds were placed into the transportation fund at the end of the session without being committed to a specific projects.
  2. Determining if non-committed Emergency Rental Assistance funds, that at are at risk of being returned to the feds if unused, can be dedicated to funding some of these projects,
  3. Suggesting that projects which cannot be funded with ARPA funds instead be funded with one time budget surplus funding.
 
As faith community leaders, we urge you to please do what you can to support bold action in this area.  With strong leadership from the state Utah can dramatically reduce homelessness in the coming year. 
 

​Sincerely,
 
 
Fr. Martin Diaz
Cathedral of the Madeleine
 
Rev. Monica Dobbins
First Unitarian Church
 
Rev. Vinnetta Golphin-Wilkerson
Granger Community Christian Church
 
Rev.  Christine Higueria-Street
she/her/hers
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
 
Rev. Charles Hines
St. Francis of Assisi Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
 
The Rev Deacon Elizabeth Hunter
Cathedral Church of St. Mark
 
Rev. Kim James
Ogden First United Methodist Church
 
Rev. Steve Klemz
Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Retired
 
Pastor Bruce Kolasch
Elim Lutheran Church

Rev. Elias Koucos 
Greek Orthodox Priest
 
Rev. Martha M. Moler
Prebyterian Church, USA
 
Rev. David Nichols
(he/him/his)
Mount Tabor Lutheran Church, ELCA
 
Rev. Dr. Curtis Price, (he/him/his) Pastor,
First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City
 
Rev. DanaLee Simon
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Rocky Mountain Synod
 
Rev. Lora Young
Unitarian Universalist Minister

COMMISSION ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
AGENDA TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
UTAH STATE CAPITOL - COMMISSION ROOM #445
ZOOM LINK: https://utah-gov.zoom.us/j/89274201183
 
I.  WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS CO-CHAIRS
 
II. PUBLIC COMMENTS
STACEY HERPEL
a. PLEASE SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS TO HOUSING@UTAH.GOV BY i. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 5:00 PM
 
III. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES:
a. JULY 12, 2022
 
IV. PRESENTATION – SUBGROUP ON RURAL HOUSING (20 MIN) MATT LOO
 
V. PRESENTATION - SUBGROUP ON LOW INCOME HOUSING (20 MIN) BETH HOLBROOK
 
VI. PRESENTATION - SUBGROUP ON ATTAINABLE HOUSING (20 MIN) CHRIS GAMVROULAS
 
VII. DISCUSSION - SUBGROUP PROJECTS
 
VIII. OTHER BUSINESS CHAIR/CO-CHAIRS
 
IX. ADJOURN
 ​

Come to our Open House and help honor some amazing people

8/30/2022

 
You are invited to join us on September 8 for an Open House at our Thrift Store and Westside Food Pantry and a reception honoring a few of our amazing volunteers and supporters.  The Open House at our Westside Pantry & Thrift Store is from 5 PM to 6 PM.  These two buildings are across the street from each other.  The  West Side Pantry is located at 1358 West Indiana Avenue in Salt Lake City,  The Thrift Store is located across the street at 1385 West Indiana Avenue.

The Volunteer Appreciation will take place at 6:15 PM at Poplar Grove Park.


People to be recognized:
  • Stephanie Wilson - Lifetime Achievement
  • St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church - Thrift Store
  • Tamara White - Powerful Moms Who Care
  • Bill Germundson - Special Recognition for Outstanding Service to Our Community
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Thank you to everyone who helped with the Poverty Summit on Saturday!

8/29/2022

 
On Saturday, August 27, a group of 75 people gathered to talk about solutions to homelessness and hunger.  We are so grateful that Christ United Methodist Church was willing to host tis event and that about twenty people volunteered to help make sure everything went smoothly.

We are also very grateful to our keynote speaker, Rev, Dr. Curtis L, Price, and to all of the elected officials and policymakers who came and shared their knowledge with us in panel conversations.  

News Coverage from Summit

  • Group aims to greatly reduce homelessness in SLC before Olympics potentially returns
  • ​Can Utah commit to reducing homelessness before hosting another Olympics?

Note From Our Thrift Store

8/10/2022

 
​The Crossroads Thrift Store is working hard to get everyone in need the clothing, household supplies, and camping gear they need for summer! We have also started a store Instagram where you can follow all our work and see some of our funny thrift finds and donations, follow us @xroadsthriftadventures!  

If you want to include our needed donations in this as well, feel free 

thanks!! 

Poverty Summit on August 27 to focus on solutions to  homelessness and hunger

8/10/2022

 
On the morning of August 27, 2022, Crossroads Urban Center will be hosting a Poverty Summit at Christ United Methodist Church in Millcreek City, Utah.   We will be focusing on two specific topics this year.
​
Housing to end homeless:  The Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness has identified 2,940 housing units that need to be created to meet the current need.  What would it take to build all of those units before the 2034 Olympic Games (possibly) come to our county?  Hear from state and local officials about plans to build housing this year to reduce homelessness in Salt Lake County and help brainstorm ideas for what can be done in upcoming  years.  Panelists will include:  
  • Mayor Jeff Silvestrini, City of Millcreek, 
  • Wayne Niederhauser, State Homeless Coordinator, 
  • State of Utah
  • Andrew Johnston, Director of Homeless Policy & Outreach,
  • Salt Lake City
  • Dina Blaes, Director of Regional Development, Salt Lake County

Helping families struggling with inflation:  Hear from Senator Luz Escamilla, Representative Joel Briscoe and Representative Ashlee Matthews about proposals to eliminate fares for public transportation, increase access to child care assistance and expand support for food pantries to help meet increased need.

Keynote Speaker:  Rev. Dr. Curtis L. Price, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City.

Below is the full agenda for the summit..
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EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY
347 South 400 East
Salt Lake City, UT  84111
801-364-7765
Monday – Friday 
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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CROSSROADS THRIFT STORE
1385 West Indiana Avenue
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801-359-8837
Tuesday-Saturday
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CROSSROADS WESTSIDE FOOD PANTRY
1358 West Indiana Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT  84104
801-935-4079
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM
closed Wednesday)
Food only (no emergency services)
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