News: Mayor Ben McAdams Reveals Plan to Combat Homelessness
On Monday, August 8th, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams presented a new plan to combat homelessness. Mayor McAdams says that the Homeless Services System Reform Plan’s aim is to “strategically reduce the demand for emergency shelters across our region.”
McAdams and his administration have been working aggressively to provide a better resolution than what exists now. He described, “We are building something different that integrates into the community.” The proposed services will take into account months of research that finds in order to support safety and a pathway to self-reliance, facilities must provide more than a bed and a meal.
“I’m convinced we are at a point where we can achieve larger goals by following collective impact principles as we work to move individuals and families from homelessness to stability and safety. We will take our efforts to the next level to focus on effective, efficient delivery of services, starting with developing goals and measurable outcomes,” McAdams stated. His plan asserts that just as the causes of homelessness varies, so do the needs of the individuals without a stable home. The system should recognize the unique circumstances and tailor service delivery based on what works for the people served. The plan will also be geared towards self-sufficiency so people can exit crisis quickly, diverting them from emergency shelters and away from homelessness.
Arch Nexus is proud to have provided Salt Lake County with plans, estimates, and graphics for the mayors presentation on Monday night. Nexus’ staff were present at the meeting on Monday to help answer questions from the community, and will continue to assist Salt Lake County in their efforts by providing additional specific criteria and recommendations for locations and possible project sites later this month.
To learn more about the Homeless Services System Reform Plan please click on the following links:
http://slco.org/homeless-services/
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659107/A-real-plan-to-help-the-homeless-rises-in-Utah.html?pg=all
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659351/Stakeholders-Can-homeless-reform-plan-reduce-shelter-demand.html
http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/salt-lake-county-mayor-reveals-plan-to-battle-homelessness