I am a Child Protective Services caseworker for the Department of Child and Family Services. My career entails working with a variety of families in all walks of life. Many of these families have been living in poverty and/or experiencing homelessness. I serve in the Salt Lake County area. Within this county, there is one family homeless shelter, the Road Home, located in Midvale. The Road Home offers access to case management and helps individuals and their families get connected to services and affordable housing.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in 2018, 15% of Utah’s homeless population were unsheltered – a total of 2,456 individuals. As of this number, 972 families or individuals within families were experiencing homelessness (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2019).
The National Alliance to End Homelessness offers solutions to help these struggling individuals and families. Rapid-rehousing has been found to be an effective solution, and allows families to quickly find housing and rental assistance and other services. Once people are housed, they are in a “better position to address other challenges that may have led to their homelessness, such as obtaining employment or addressing substance abuse issues” (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2019).
The Midvale Road Home assists clients in applying for and obtaining services such as rapid-rehousing. However, the Midvale Road Home is the only family-oriented homeless shelter within Salt Lake County.
Many families are missing out on resources that could help them get back on their feet. If we were to expand funding to establish more family-oriented facilities, we could offer more families a chance to regain their footing.
Kendall Cvetko, Kearns
