Unhoused

Answer: Regarding homeless camps, I have a few thoughts.

Why is it that people set up camps? Maybe (1) they can't afford their own housing, (2) they choose to be transient, or (3) they have medical conditions that would prevent them from holding down a steady job? Or drug addictions have them convinced that this is the best - or only - way of life? Why would they choose to set up camp instead of seek shelter? Seems like there are plenty of shelter options available - is that true? Are they not long-term enough? Do they have to show that they are looking for employment? 

I admit that living in a tent would be nice, compared to a bed in a shelter, because you would have more privacy. Maybe a shelter cannot accommodate for the privacy that one desires, such as cooking, imbibing alcohol or illegal substances, or sex. What would motivate them to seek shelter and look for a job when they can just live in a tent? (1) There could be no space for a tent, they keep getting kicked out by militia-looking police flaunting guns, or someone keeps setting their tents on fire - the latter two are illegal or unsightly for the city, and the first is difficult for the city to regulate. (2) Could we convince them that living in tents is unsightly and doesn't bode well for the city because we have to clean up after them? Do they care? Obviously not. They have no investment in the city itself, otherwise they would care that their camps stink, that their piles of trash are atrocious, and that people crinkle their noses and stare as they pass by. Can we get them more invested in the city so that they do care? Unlikely, especially when we don't have a handle on drugs that make them not care about any social graces such as yelling to themselves while walking down the street, not wearing masks on the train, asking for money and drugs while wearing clothes that haven't been washed in four years and boots that have had holes ever since they acquired them, rubbing the gangrene on their feet on the street corner, and being A-holes to the local business employees who just want to get them out of their store as quickly as possible, having to open the doors for 15 minutes after they leave because they smell dreadful - urine being the only smell we recognize.

So what housing options are available, and how do you mitigate who utilizes that housing program? What if they didn't have to be employed, or even show that they are looking for a job? Could we implement some sort of community service program? But they can't look hideous and they have to pass the "minimum requirements" for completing community service - "sorry, you have to dress properly for the task," "but I am dressed properly," "yeah, but you smell like a zoo, sorry." I guess it brings up a whole concept of holding them accountable. It takes a village. Why are we the ones to enforce their participation? The police aren't funded to do so. Maybe it's a decent trade-off. As a store manager and program participant, I would much rather have a positive interaction with someone, and have them listen to me intently when I tell them that they smell like a zoo, rather than me cowering while they stumble in with their clothes barely on, drinking my hand sanitizer, or barely able to speak and desperately looking for something to borrow or keep, like scissors or a pen, reaching over the counter and TOUCHING everything DURING A PANDEMIC.

I don't think we can deny that people just want to CAMP. So can we make it better somehow? Less unsightly? Less gross? Would love to brainstorm more. I empathize with these people, but they terrorize my heart on a weekly basis.

Thank you,

MJ Jones
Store Manager, Salt Lake City

Response: 

Good Afternoon! My name is Tyler Clancy and I am the executive director of the Pioneer Park Coalition. We are an organization located here in Salt Lake City working to address issues such as crime, drug abuse, and homelessness in order to make our city a better place for everyone to live. Throughout the past year, we have heard countless stories and cries from residents and businesses alike - that crime is a consistent challenge in the downtown area - we have seen it ourselves. I am reaching out today to see if you would be interested in a partnership with us to help make our city safer - this partnership is called the Safe Streets Initiative

The Safe Streets Initiative is a public safety effort that seeks to reduce street violence, theft, and other criminal activity in specific “hot spots” throughout Salt Lake City. This project engages the community in crime-fighting and community policing by showing criminals they will be held accountable for their actions if they engage in criminal conduct on or near “Safe Streets Initiative” community partners. This will help SLC Police Dept. solve crimes and maintain a strong presence at all times in “High-Risk” areas.

The Safe Streets Initiative involves local businesses sharing crime data and surveillance footage (of crimes that have taken place on company property) with the Pioneer Park Coalition. The Coalition will use this data and information to inform our law enforcement partners of the situation at hand, and hold them accountable if they fail to act. 

If you would like to take part in this partnership - please just respond to this email below and I can fill you in on any other details you would like to know. We are hoping to announce this initiative and launch it as soon as next week. As part of this launch, we are looking to hold a press conference to describe the challenges we are facing as a city along with a description of our initiative. Please reach out to me if you would like to participate in the press conference as well. 

Thanks again for your commitment to our city and for all of the good you do - 

Talk to you soon,

Tyler Clancy