UTAH — After meeting with individuals experiencing homelessness last week, Gov. Gary Herbert is urging Utahns to contribute a few dollars to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund when filing tax returns this year.
“In every part of our state, we have individuals and families experiencing homelessness — some for a single night, and some for weeks or months,” Gov. Herbert said in a media statement. “Donating to the trust fund provides support directly to the services they need most, like emergency shelter, healthcare and food. Utahns are known for helping their neighbors, and that’s exactly who these people are — our neighbors.”
Gov. Herbert met with service providers at Salt Lake City’s 4th Street Clinic. The clinic provides health screenings, immunizations, mental health and substance abuse services, dental and eye care, pharmacy and other services. The grant helps to supplement providers statewide in their efforts to provide shelter, day centers, outreach and case management to homeless individuals.
“By donating to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund on their 2015 tax form this tax season, Utahns are supporting statewide efforts focused on delivering critical services for our vulnerable homeless population,” Herbert said in the statement. “All donations to the fund go directly to service organizations statewide that provide vital care and assistance to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.”
More than 30 organizations benefit from the fund through a competitive grant application process and have received funding through the State Community Services Office including: Switchpoint and Five County Association of Governments in St. George, as well as Cedar City’s Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center, D.O.V.E. Center, and Iron County Care and Share.
In Washington County, the number of homeless youth is substantial, Washington County Youth Crisis Center Director Tami Fullerton told St. George News in a November interview.
“The numbers range from 500 to as high as 800 in this county alone,” Fullerton said.
The homeless trust fund is leveraged with other state funding to provide the maximum impact for the following services statewide:
- Emergency services – temporary shelters, soup kitchens, day centers and outreach services
- Supportive services – varying levels of case management used to help more people move into stable in housing
- Housing services – rapid rehousing, transitional housing, rental assistance, onsite case management and security
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