Editor’s note
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Could a community-centric village of 400-square-foot tiny homes with access to mental health resources and other services help reduce chronic homelessness in Utah’s capital city?
Advocates, service providers, political leaders and even some people experiencing homelessness say yes and with broad-based stakeholder support and political will, the vision could become a reality as soon as November.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall recognizes that her goal to create a tiny home village pilot project before winter is “ambitious,” since it would require blazing a new trail in Utah. The obstacles to getting there could include complex zoning changes, Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) pushback from the community and funding.
Utah Legislature made sweeping changes to homeless, housing systems deseret.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from deseret.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Black Flag.
Eventually, Egan became a well-known figure within the scene. In his mid-20s at the time, he became the self-described “friendly neighborhood older dude.” Sometimes he would even do promotional work for bands taking photos that would go on album covers, 7” records or flyers. Not in it for the money, all Egan asked for in return was maybe a 7” or a T-shirt. He’s still friends with a lot of the people from the scene to this day.
Through his photography, Egan was able to witness the evolution of the local punk and hardcore scene firsthand. From the beginning, he says there was an incredible sense of camaraderie. It was also definitely hardcore but never life-threateningly dangerous. “I drove more than one person to the hospital to get stitched up after they got ripped by someone’s Levi rivet that was stage diving or their nose broken by someone’s boot. But it was all good fun,” he says.
A homeless encampment known as ‘Camp Last Hope’ is being shut down by the Salt Lake City officials this week. The encampment, under an overpass near 900 South and 500 West in downtown Salt Lake City, was started late last year by community organizers.
Credit utahstatecapitol.utah.gov
The 2021 Utah legislative session kicks off under unusual circumstances. Among the many items up for consideration are several police reform measures and an effort to put pressure on schools to resume in-person classes. Plus, a new president means a significant change in public lands policy, and a likely reversal of strategy for two Utah national monuments. And Camp Last Hope, a new kind of homeless encampment, takes shape in Salt Lake City.
At 9 a.m. on Friday, Salt Lake Tribune reporters Brian Maffly, Courtney Tanner and Taylor Stevens, and news columnist Robert Gehrke join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories. Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.