Inside Voices: Utahns push back on response to emergency shelters

Happy Saturday, and welcome to Inside Voices, a weekly newsletter that features a collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah — without any of the vitriol or yelling that’s become all too common on other platforms. Subscribe here.

As temperatures continue to drop, many Utahns are turning their attention to our unhoused neighbors.

Choice Kinchen, a Utah veteran who has experienced homelessness, wrote in an op-ed published this week that colder weather conjures up “thoughts of fear, doubt and uncertainty — images of frosty breath as I cupped my hands, desperately trying to stay warm.” He urged Utah leaders to begin planning their winter response earlier in the year, to increase food and clothing drives and to create more emergency warming centers.

In Kaysville, a community spoke out against a plan to open an emergency shelter, The Tribune reported.

“We’re not cold-hearted, unvirtuous people,” said Joel Harris, who lives blocks away from the site. “We’re concerned about the safety of our children. We’re concerned about property values.”

On The Tribune’s Instagram post, many commenters focused on the role faith plays in helping the unhoused.

“Jesus was a refugee in a warming center,” one person wrote.

I asked readers to share their expectations of local leaders and how they want to be involved. More than 50 of you responded:

• “This is one of those times where the will of the people needs to be ignored. Local leaders need to do what is right, i.e., caring for those in need and not kowtowing to NIMBYs who only care about their property value.” — Dakota, Sandy

• “In an ideal world, leaders would establish thoughtful protocols for warming centers, including on-site security, social workers and access to basic necessities like water. Clear communication should be provided to residents, sharing details about the centers and a hotline for concerns through a ‘see something, say something’ approach.” — Erin, Salt Lake City

• “Our leaders should be empowered, not harassed for doing right by every citizen. Like it or not, this state belongs to everyone … I’ll show up and help build houses myself. Just tell me when and where.” — Brooklyn, Orem

• “Shelter, security, food, hygiene and connection are essential for human wellness. My fellow Utahns should have access to at least the minimum or else they will never recover. We’re all a few bad days from homelessness so why should we deny the people facing bad luck today?” — Kass, St. George

Tell me: What has been your personal response to unhoused individuals you’ve seen? What assumptions do you find yourself making?

Utah Voices

The following excerpts come from op-eds recently published in The Tribune.

• “If I can’t physically protect my children or be at the school to comfort them, then their phone serves as our lifeline to connection,” writes Michelle Love-Day, a board member of The Policy Project and an educator of 23 years. “But it’s possible to have the comfort of communication in emergencies alongside safer, better learning environments.” Read more.

• “Public lands should be shared by and preserved for all. Utah’s costly lawsuit threatens that vision, and it’s our tax money bankrolling it,” writes Madi Sudweeks in Salt Lake City. “As we stare down another Trump presidency, we must actually stand up for public lands by keeping them public.” Read more.

• “I urge Utah legislators to look to the evidence within social science when making any decisions about women’s access to reproductive health care this upcoming legislative session,” writes Katie E. Wyant-Stein, a PhD candidate in developmental psychology at the University of Utah. “When the evidence is clear, public policy should follow suit. It is time for Utah legislators to start making public policy that is informed by data and not by their personal code of conduct.” Read more.

• “America is like a patient sitting in the optometrist’s chair, where the doctor shows us two lenses — both blurry,” writes Jacob Bellows in Centerville. “‘Is it one or two? One or two?’ Neither option works, but we are stuck between these choices, continually flipping between the two. But if we had more lenses, we could find one so we could see clearer.” Read more.

• “As a historian of LGBTQ+ Utah, I am inspired by the strength, unity and resilience that our community has shown throughout history. We have confronted adversity before, from organizing during the AIDS crisis to advocating for marriage equality and nondiscrimination protections — and we can do it again,” writes Randell Hoffman. Read more.

Share Your Perspective

Homeownership has long been a key to building wealth. But there’s nowhere in Utah where the typical renter can afford to buy a home without moving across county lines, The Tribune has reported.

As homeownership becomes more difficult, The Salt Lake Tribune wants to hear from you: Do you feel like you’re still able to build wealth? How so?

From Bagley’s Desk

I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.