It's About This and Not about That

Greetings, friends and neighbors: 

I had the privilege to sit in on a meeting of SLC Mayor Ralph Becker's homeless commission yesterday at Salt Lake City Public Library's Main Branch. I only heard about it at the last minute, by complete chance. Thank you Kerry Steadman of Salt Lake County.

The Road Home's Matt Minkevich gave an excellent presentation. I want to say to the "Homeless Advocate" named Anne, "Thank you for sharing your homelessness experience story, but you painted a very unfair picture of 'the Homeless.' " "Homeless people," for the most part, are just like anyone else you might meet in your work, church, grocery store... ." Perhaps it's because you chose to become homeless (by your own admission, to have money for dental care), that you view things the way you do.

Everyone involved at the "higher level" insists this is about how to best serve our homeless brothers and sisters, say this is about how to help them, and not  about moving or not moving The Road Home, but the media insists on making this the issue. I again want to say that moving shelters and/or services is simply not the best option, for a number of reasons.

One thing I am not hearing in this conversation, nor in anything I have read about it is, whatever is decided, where do our homeless friends live while the shelters are being re-located? Where do these people go for services while they are being moved or revamped? 

This what should be first and foremost in our minds as we consider solutions to help those who need our help. 

Hi Debbie! Oh, and to the gentleman who says it's so easy to live at The Road Home day in and day out: What are you smokin'?" 

Stay in motion and stay hopeful. ---RGR

Related story links:

http://www.sltrib.com/staff/?ID=52 

http://www.sltrib.com/news/2088723-155/city-council-skeptical-of-mayors-homeless

http://fox13now.com/2015/01/26/homeless-shelter-commission-conducts-first-meeting/ 

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620459/Study-of-location-of-citys-homeless-services-providers-a-courageous-conversation.html 

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