The Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday approved funding to open St. Vincent de Paul for emergency winter homeless shelter. The dining hall there each year converts into a space that houses 150 people through the winter months.
The council approved $230,000 to open St. Vincent de Paul, which is directly across from The Road Home shelter as well as a $50,000 match if the population outgrows that space.
“The way that the funding will be allocated recognizes a desire and a hope that other partners or stakeholders will step up and help meet the funding need,” says David Litvack. He’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Jackie Biskupski. Litvack says the $50,000 is contingent on other financial backers coming forward.
Salt Lake City Councilman Derek Kitchen says the issue underscores the need for four new homeless shelters, for which the city is currently identifying locations.
“My concern is that this winter we’re going to have a sizeable increase in the folks that are living on the street compared to years past because it feels like it has been a more aggressive summer,” Kitchen says. “So I have to imagine that entering the winter we’ll have the same dynamic.”
Kitchen says the $50,000 match means the city is preparing for a potential increase in need, which he believes will only continue to grow.
