I’m writing this letter in response to the horrific treatment of unhoused individuals in Salt Lake City. I understand homelessness is a complicated issue with no simple solutions. However, I believe treating people with dignity and kindness is simple.
In this supposedly fiscally conservative state, ridiculous amounts of money are being used to destroy people’s life-saving supplies, endangering people’s physical and mental health.
Why does the city need to spend $200,000 on a helicopter for one day, with the only result being moving a bunch of stuff from one place to another? If abatements are done for the sake of public health, why not provide people with public health resources like accessible bathrooms and clean running water?
If you want people to get a job, how are they supposed to do that when they haven’t had access to a shower in weeks? Do you think it’ll be easy to get hired?
The narrative that shelters are ready, waiting, and accessible is a lie. I helped a woman, with a two-year-old, call every domestic violence shelter along the Wasatch Front and all of them were full. The fact that her only options were to stay on the street or go back to an abusive home is despicable, and we as tax-paying citizens should be outraged that our money is being used for sports and entertainment complexes instead of helping people like her.
People are quick to blame the individual, but the fact is, any one of us can become unhoused. In fact, more people than ever are one missed paycheck away from it. There is no fundamental difference between us, but the walls that we have built.
Ellen Seely, Salt Lake City