Recently I visited The INN Between in Sugar House. It was around 6:30 in the evening, and our visit was unplanned and unexpected. Here is what I witnessed:
A kind gentleman who held the door for us to enter. A lovely gray-haired woman with a walker welcoming us to her home. An older gentleman peacefully resting in a chair. A resident with Down syndrome walking the halls with a large smile on his face. Two women excited to inspect our delivery. A volunteer who offered to show us around (we declined as we were not there to inspect, judge or otherwise invade their lives).
I witnessed a peaceful, happy and quiet community of people sitting down to a play a game of bingo. I experienced warmth and inclusiveness when they politely invited us to participate in their evening activity. I saw a clean, beautiful environment. I saw a community working in harmony to make their lives work. I saw dignity. I saw empathy. And I saw grace. I was only in The INN Between for a short time. I will be the first to admit that my experience there is shallow and limited. But what it was not was orchestrated for my benefit.
I have lived in the Sugar House neighborhood for the better part of 20 years. I know this neighborhood, and I love it for many reasons. Sadly, The INN Between has created a divided community. I think it is important for all of us to take a step back and consider the facts.
1. Crime in our neighborhood is up. You cannot leave a car in my driveway unlocked without it being ransacked. This is disturbing and sad. This has been going on for at least a few years now and definitely predates the arrival of The INN Between. As unfortunate as it is, this is a problem that has much more complex origins and should not be blamed on our homeless community who are seeking care and comfort in their time of need. Please have conversations with your local community council, local police and the mayoral officials. This is a problem that needs addressing, but it is not because we are offering hospice to the homeless in our community.
2. There is an increase in homelessness in Sugar House. This is also true, and also completely unaffiliated with the arrival of The INN Between. Operation Rio Grande has had some (presumably) unconsidered consequences that are affecting our community greatly. Again, please get involved with your local community council and other governmental agencies, but quit blaming The INN Between.
3. Morality is subjective. I understand that some people are uncomfortable with, or morally opposed to, cigarette smokers. Unfortunately for those folks, cigarettes are legal, and while they may be stinky and unseemly to some, they are no cause for alarm. Sugar House is becoming increasingly urban, and with that urbanity will come people with different beliefs, cultures and moral codes of ethics. That might include smoking. It is not illegal, and your first instinct should not be to call the cops. Smoking is not an indicator of a drug deal happening on your street.
4. Sugar House has changed. This is no longer the quiet, eclectic community that it once was. I too am saddened at many of the changes that have been made in the name of progress and growth. But, at the end of the day, we are a growing, vibrant community who pride ourselves on diversity, culture and inclusiveness, and that motto will carry us through. If you can’t get behind it, it might be time for you to move on.
5. Know the facts. Much of the information being spread is based in fear rather than reality. To imply that our children cannot walk the streets alone anymore is absurd and unsubstantiated (I have an elementary-age child who walks to/from school daily along with many, many other children from her school). To assume that our most marginalized of citizens are here only to do you and your family harm has no basis in reality. To think that your property values are being devalued because we have a center of caring and hope in our midst is false.
I am here imploring you, my neighbors, to think about your words and actions and to ask yourselves how you would like to be treated if you were dying, wounded or otherwise physically impaired and did not have the means to pay for medical assistance. I ask you to consider how, at the end of your life, you will defend your actions and your words if you are to speak out against the most fragile among us because of lack of understanding and/or fear. I ask you to please work together to fight the good fight to defend our community and our rights as citizens, but to remember that we are ALL citizens and all deserve to play bingo in comfort and peace at 6:30 on a Wednesday night. I ask you to visit The INN Between, as I did, and see that it is not a threat.
Juliana Groscost, Salt Lake City, is a mother, wife, concerned citizen and Sugar House enthusiast.
