Legislative Session Ends with Steps to Help Homeless Services Community

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The 2021 Utah Legislative Session felt very different this year. The frantic pace and high emotions of most sessions were gone, replaced by a sense that we are all experiencing these unique pandemic times together and need to accomplish what we can under the circumstances.

From the perspective of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, much was accomplished. Our priority concern was homelessness, and legislators took significant steps to improve the governance and funding for homeless services, primarily by leveraging state dollars to connect with a major influx of private funding for deeply affordable and affordable housing. The private investment would not have been possible without the state’s commitment to both the results of a Gardner Policy Institute study of homeless services governance and funding and a substantial appropriation for affordable housing.

The Gardner Study brought together multiple stakeholders in the homeless services community, including providers, philanthropists, community members and government leaders. The diocese participated in the study as part of the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness. The discussions included both full group meetings and one-on-one conversations over the course of several months and allowed all involved to clear up many misperceptions about homeless services across the state. The final result included six recommendations to ensure a statewide focus on addressing homelessness and better coordination of funding to render homelessness brief, rare and non-recurring.

Several of the study recommendations were then compiled into HB 347, sponsored by Rep. Steve Eliason (R-Sandy) and Sen. Jake Anderegg (R-Eagle Mountain).  Among other things, the bill creates a Homeless Services Officer position to coordinate a newly reconstituted Utah Homelessness Council and the multiple funding streams that flow to services for people experiencing homelessness. The council will include representatives from multiple state agencies that impact homelessness in some manner; city leaders from areas with homeless shelters; providers, and a person with lived experience. Each of these entities will have voting powers on the council, better ensuring that all voices have equal weight.

The entities and individuals who served in the Gardner study were also key to the housing appropriation.  Bringing the stakeholders together to address misconceptions about and needs in the homeless services arena also helped bridge the gap between providers, government and private funders, giving all more confidence in the flow and uses of funds to help move and keep people out of homelessness. As we continue to address some of the less-informed narratives about homelessness and Housing First policies, funders at all levels signaled their commitment to best practices by providing $50 million in state dollars and $730 million in private funds for housing and related services.

For the diocese, this statewide commitment to addressing the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities is the Gospel message in action. Throughout the Old and New Testament, God’s call is clear – we must focus our attention on those most in need. Critical to our work in building a more just world is also ensuring the voices of the poor and vulnerable are given an equal seat at the table. The new Utah Homeless Council is an important step to providing that seat, as are the ongoing efforts of service providers to do the same on the local level.  

On other fronts, the legislature also took a step toward reducing the barriers homeless individuals face in obtaining housing and employment by allowing a person without an address to use the address of a homeless service provider. This simple change means an unsheltered individual will be able to apply for a state I.D. or driver’s license, documentation needed to secure both housing and employment.   

In what must be described as an act of mercy, the legislature avoided many of the usual contentious battles this session, with one exception. As already addressed in a prior column, legislators took the blatantly anti-life move of eliminating the need for a concealed carry permit, allowing any and all individuals 21 and older to carry a firearm without even the minimal requirements imposed by our prior permit system. The diocese will continue to advocate for sensible restrictions on possession and use of firearms and the creation of a stronger culture of life in our state in future sessions.

Jean Hill is the legislative liaison for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Reach her at jean.hill@dioslc.org.