A Homelessness Coordinating Committee meeting will be held Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. in Room 126 (County Commission Chambers) at the Memorial Courthouse in downtown Farmington.
That meeting will come just two weeks before the annual homelessness count is conducted around the county and state, says County Commission Chair Louenda Downs.
That annual count means combing parks, parking lots and other outdoor spots to determine who is living in cars or other non-traditional spots.
“We will talk about that (at the meeting), and had a meeting with Gordon Walker about state funds that we could possibly tap into for a homelessness housing project,” she said.
There are several homelessness funding sources at the state level, such as the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund and community development loan grants.
“We’re doing a pretty extensive search to find what groups and funding sources there might be that could partner with us to work toward housing for the homeless in Davis County,” Downs said.
“We’ve got all kinds of needs and we want to continue our focus in being responsive to those needs, providing what we can to help,” she said.
Homelessness took center stage at this fall’s Davis County Gala. About $40,000 was donated toward homeless programs, coordinated by Davis Behavioral Health.
Among agencies involved in researching ways to help homeless in the county is the Davis Community Housing Authority. Executive director Jan Winborg is a member of the homelessness committee.
“We are working with the school district to find out how many homeless children there are, and are trying to coordinate with other agencies, including the state, to see what the needs of the homeless are,” Winborg said.
“We are also checking with those on our (Housing Authority) waiting list to see if there are any homeless so we can see if there is anything we can do to help them, including referring them to other agencies that might be able to provide assistance,” she said.
“Families are probably our greatest percentage of folks in homelessness, that need our help and attention,” Downs said. “We get homeless individuals, but our count for them is smaller.”
But the need also extends to other groups, such as homeless inmates who are leaving the jail, an issue that has been discussed in a previous committee meeting.
Differing needs of the different populations may be met via housing projects, which are being explored with various cities and agencies, or by helping those in shelters, of which Davis County currently has none.
“We’re moving from just a distant vision to some real possibilities in making these things a reality,” the commissioner said.
The Family Connection Center and Safe Harbor are among other agencies that are partnering in the effort, Downs said.
“That’s what makes things happen,” is partnerships, she said. “That’s why they happen in Salt Lake County, with religious, government groups. Let’s make that happen.”
tbusselberg@davisclipper.com
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