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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow Utah reduced homelessness by more than 90 percent
Utahs chronically homeless population has dropped by 91 percent since 2005, and may altogether be gone by 2015. The state has achieved this by approaching homelessness in an innovative, although simple, way:
If someone is homeless, give that person a home.
While some critics may argue that this solution simplifies a complicated issue by ignoring the social, economic, and mental health components that factor into homelessness, Utah and other states are discovering that by investing in peoples most basic needs, they are better able to address the other factors that lead to homelessness. And they are doing so with less money.
Lloyd Pendleton, the director of Utahs Homeless Task Force, was not always a believer in the states current method of addressing homelessness, initially saying the idea was totally unrealistic. But now he says that prioritizing a home for those without has drastically changed the way the state can deal with other factors, including unemployment.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2015/0504/How-Utah-reduced-homelessness-by-more-than-90-percent
daleanime
(17,796 posts)simple ideas work the best. And save money.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)But it isn't.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)Oh my God, it works.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)The community would help feed or build housing, etc. for a family who needed it. They expected everyone to work as work was above all else, but they did not let people starve. They also had communes in the desert that were 100% equality including communal dining areas. That is some of the good stuff in their history.
I think we need more stories like this as well as what happened in the wider community because of this. I have read where there are successful programs to feed the hungry and house the homeless, crime goes way way down. Imagine if we siphoned off some money from the drug war to put toward these programs that actually make things better for everyone? Oh noes, it's Socialism!!
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)They do have a strong sense of community...and this is where it really shines.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)joeybee12
(56,177 posts)They really do think corporations are god-sends.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)XemaSab
(60,212 posts)BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)I have read quite a bit about Mormonism in its early stages. Thanks for the info.
Qutzupalotl
(14,327 posts)That works for me!
WillyT
(72,631 posts)& Rec !!!
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)Hey, doing good is doing good, no matter how red the state.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)panader0
(25,816 posts)A very fine program indeed.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Index Utah Code
Title 10 Utah Municipal Code
Chapter 8 Powers and Duties of Municipalities
Part 1 General Powers
Section 49 Vagrants -- Arrest -- Fine -- Putting to work -- Municipal lodging.
10-8-49. Vagrants -- Arrest -- Fine -- Putting to work -- Municipal lodging.
They may arrest and fine or set to work on the streets or elsewhere all vagrants, mendicants and persons found in the city without visible means of support or some legitimate business, and may establish and maintain municipal lodging and eating houses.
No Change Since 1953
Pooka Fey
(3,496 posts)juajen
(8,515 posts)nt
AZ Progressive
(3,411 posts)OMG! What a radical discovery!
Wait, didn't an American president mention something about giving a right to housing about 70 years ago?
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)Or they're fudging the numbers.
Here's some recent photos of SLC:
I've not noticed a down tick in panhandlers. Something doesn't feel right.
Response to joeybee12 (Original post)
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