An extra $10 million is being sent to Salt Lake City’s Homeless Resource Centers courtesy of the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation. (PHOTO: KSL Newsradio's John Wojcik)
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City’s Homeless Resource Centers will receive an additional $10 million to keep going, as part of a public matching grant courtesy of the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation.
The challenge grant was part of the Home4Change campaign. That campaign resulted in 1,688 donations, ranging in size from $5 to over $1 million, and reached $10,107,264.
Leaders at the homeless resource centers say the funds will ensure that operations stay up and running at their three locations.
“It is meant to help us through the first few years as we get this model ramped up and going,” said Laurie Hopkins, executive director of Shelter the Homeless. “It’s very expensive to run these emergency shelters. The homeless resource center model has wrap-around services and it’s also scattered in three different locations.”
Services provided include two daily meals, laundry, various basic needs and case management.
Beyond daily expenses, Hopkins says the centers will target a few different areas for improvements with the funds.
“One of the areas that we’re continuing to look at is the emergency sheltering for the winter time,” she said.
Since becoming operational roughly 18 months ago, officials say the three new Homeless Resource Centers have been wildly successful. Over that short period of time, they’ve already helped around 5,000 people. Most importantly, they believe that people are getting better care when entering one of the facilities.
“They’re bright, they’re open, they’re spacious,” said Hopkins. “The idea of being able to have a meal and do your laundry and connect with donated clothing is very helpful. They don’t need to leave in the morning and figure out what to do for the rest of the day. They’re actually able to continue to use the facility 24/7.”