ST. GEORGE — Orange, blue and white balloons floated against a blue sky Friday afternoon as some 400 people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of new homeless shelter and resource center SwitchPoint, participate in the United Way Dixie Ball Drop for Charity, and enjoy a barbecue meal donated by Smith’s grocery store.
After some eight weeks of being open to the public, SwitchPoint has housed an average of 68 people per night — ranging from infants to elderly adults — and the facility currently has a waiting list of 72 people, SwitchPoint Director Carol Hollowell said.
“We knew we had a large amount of homeless people in the area,” Hollowell said. “In our first two months, we have gone through 92 people; many of them have been reunited with their families or found permanent housing, and over 30 people have become employed. We have a lot of campers and a lot of people taking showers and getting a meal.”
Economic and Housing Development Director Matt Loo said SwitchPoint recently housed an 86-year-old man who was in a wheelchair and his wife, 84, who is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s.
“We were able to arrange something with Kolob Center. We just had them for a week,” Loo said. “They were running out of money and still staying at their apartment, and the Police Department called us and we said, ‘Bring them in, we’ll figure it out.’ That was the oldest couple that has stayed here.”
The Youth City Council’s volunteer coordinator, manager and mayor — inaugurated Thursday night — were present at the grand opening event, and each expressed a desire to be involved with the shelter. The members plan to propose a weekly service project for SwitchPoint.
“I was slightly aware of the homeless but I didn’t know the magnitude. It’s kind of weird, living here for so many years and not realizing it,” Youth City Council Mayor Cody Fife, 17, said. “St. George can sometimes feel secluded — we don’t realize the bigger problems because we have a sort of safe haven. It seems, though, that the numbers have been rising, but because we are a service-oriented city, I feel like there is going to be more service provided.”
Current SwitchPoint resident Gordan Hawkins, 70, originally from New York City, said SwitchPoint is a superior homeless shelter compared to others he has stayed in.
“Carol and her staff do a very nice job. My family has all passed and I’m retired,” Hawkins said. “We get up around 6 or 6:30 and eat breakfast around 7, then we help out with whatever chores need doing. Then we have lunch around noon and help clean up. Then sometimes I go to the library. I like being able to help out other people here.”
Davin Prosser, 34, has been staying at SwitchPoint for just over a week and a half. He said this is the first time he has ever stayed at a homeless shelter. He lost his mother in 2007, then he lost job and had to move out of his apartment, he said. After weeks of living out of a motel room, he found himself sleeping behind a building on St. George Boulevard.
“In the morning, it was cold. I was laying in the dirt behind a building with a duffel bag of my stuff. I was surprised I didn’t get arrested. I went to Denny’s and ate breakfast. I carried my bag in with me but nobody looked at me like I was just some homeless guy,” Prosser said. “This has been really hard for me. My mom used to live in this neighborhood. This is where I grew up. A lot of the things I see remind me of my mom.”
Despite the fact that Prosser hit “rock bottom,” he said, SwitchPoint has given him a chance to pick himself back up, and he said he is grateful for the kindness so many people have shown him.
“You think you have everything, and in a second it’s gone,” Prosser said.
During the SwitchPoint ribbon-cutting ceremony, St. George Mayor Jon Pike read lines from “Les Misérables”:
Do you hear the people sing? Lost in the valley of the night. It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light. For the wretched of the earth there is a flame that never dies. Take my hand and lead me to salvation. Take my love, for love is everlasting, and remember the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. Say, do you hear the distant drums? It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes. Tomorrow is here.
“This is the best job. I cry every day,” Hollowell said. “We have a guy here who has spent seven years homeless. He said he finally felt safe. I guess the real part is that I like to feel needed. I probably get more out of helping people than they get from me.”
Read more about SwitchPoint and its services here: For a better tomorrow; homeless shelter offers 21 services
Special thanks
Hollowell expressed thanks and provided a certificate to each business, organization and individual that has provided help to SwitchPoint, from $32,000 donated by Wal-Mart to screwdrivers and scrapers lent by Habitat for Humanity. Others recognized were St. George Shuttle; American Red Cross; A.J. Construction/Southern Utah Home Builders Association; Stanley Steemer; Walter and Jeanenne Cox; American Advertising Federation; Smith’s grocery store; Zions Bank; Brad Harr; LDS Humanitarian Services; Lowe’s; Home Depot; freegeek.com, which donated 50 rebuilt computers; and Family Dollar.
United Way Dixie Ball Drop
The rescheduled United Way Dixie Ball Drop for Charity took place concurrent with SwitchPoint’s grand opening.
United Way Dixie celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, and in commemoration, a ball drop giveaway was scheduled to take place Sept. 27 but was rained out.
United Way Dixie provides service to Washington County, and 100 percent of its raised funds go to 17 nonprofit organizations, Executive Director Rebekah Pectol said.
The grand prize winners of the Ball Drop for Charity Prize Giveaway were: Dale Johnson, who won a PT Cruiser convertible; Ken LeFevre, who won a pool table valued at $6,000; and Bill Wolfe, who won $1,000.
Grand prize winner Johnson, 63, of St. George, was not present when the ball drop took place. He said he was in Cedar City working.
“I can’t answer my phone when I’m driving. I checked my voice mail and had a message that I won a prize. I didn’t believe it,” Johnson said. “I called my wife and she hadn’t heard anything, then I stopped at my office in Hurricane and had my boss check the Internet and there was nothing there, either. I was starting to believe less and less. Then I finally returned the phone call and found out I had actually won something. I’ve never won anything more than movie tickets.”
Since Johnson wasn’t able to claim his prize at the ball drop, Premier Car and Truck, the business that donated the car to United Way Dixie, had the car waiting for him at the Premier lot, 116 W. St. George Blvd. Johnson was presented with the car at 6:30 p.m.
“It seems unreal to win a car,” Johnson said. “I just want to thank everyone that was a part of it. I’ve lived in Dixie for a long time and I’ve never seen a community that pulls together like we do. Whenever there’s a car accident or a disaster, there is a line of people waiting to help. The real winner here is United Way Dixie.”
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A PT Cruiser is the grand prize at the United Way Dixie Charity Ball Drop, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
Mayor Jon Pike stands with Youth City Council Advisor Della Lowe at the SwitchPoint ribbon-cutting and United Way Dixie Charity Ball Drop, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
From left: Youth City Council Advisor Della Lowe, Volunteer Coordinater Tory Sabaltis, City Manager Fallon Jones and Youth Mayor Cody Fife stand together at the SwitchPoint ribbon-cutting ceremony and United Way Dixie Charity Ball Drop, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
Guests attend the SwitchPoint ribbon-cutting and United Way Dixie Charity Ball Drop, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
Bill Wolfe receives a check for $1,000 following the United Way Dixie Charity Ball Drop, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
After the charity ball drop, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
Attendees await the United Way Dixie Charity Ball Drop, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
Dale Johnson receives his car at Premier Car and Truck, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
St. George Mayor Jon Pike, Matt Loo and Carol Hollowell prepare to cut the ribbon at the SwitchPoint grand opening, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
St. George Mayor Jon Pike, Matt Loo and Carol Hollowell celebrate after cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of SwitchPoint, St. George, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
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kevin…….will you be willing to sell the pool table?
IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT SO UTAH REALIZES THEIR ARE ALOT MORE PEOPLE IN NEED THEN SAY 5 YEARS AGO. THE COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP YET WE KEEP MAKING IMPROVEMENTS , RAISING TAXES ETC AND YET ARE SO FAR BEHIND IN TERMS OF SOCIAL SERVICES. THE ANSWER TO 211 IS CALL A BISHOP LOL. SINCE NOT ALL OF US ARE LDS IT IS NICE TO SEE ANOTHER RESOURCE WITHOUT HAVING TO CONVERT.
You mean they haven’t converted you? That religious group has yet to explain the numerous suicides, prescription drug overdoses and acts of violence against women in its ranks.
Raffles are a form of gambling. It’s interesting that Utah looks the other way on this in this instance.
Don’t get me wrong- I love raffles. But I also see how hypocritical people are concerning gambling in this state- i.e., ‘Gambling is wrong! But…..I really really want that new car, so in this case it’s okay.’
Kind of like the ‘betting’ on the Dixie Downs horse races they used to do with the candy. That was okay, as long as they didn’t call it gambling.
Switch point is such a success… Why do they have the ol place downtown still open????mormons help Mormons only if you tigh with the church…hey do help with DCAND S… But so many places have signs out saying ( hiring now) why are there still unemployed?????then there are some people who chose to live on the streets…
That chick has some tight clothes. Looks like those clothes are about to bust as seam. She ought to buy some clothes that fit.