Citing ‘dangerously low’ overnight temps, county opens emergency shelter

SALT LAKE CITY — The Central City Recreation Center at 615 South 300 East in Salt Lake City will be used as an emergency shelter for those experiencing homelessness while below-freezing temperatures persist.

The office of the Salt Lake County Mayor announced on Monday night that extra housing would be made available. 

“While there have been beds available in the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness system recently,” county officials said in a press release, “staffing shortages continue to make it impossible or unsafe for non-profit shelter providers to create additional capacity at identified winter overflow shelters.”

There are a lot of people helping with this effort to add emergency shelter, officials also said, including volunteers, doctors and other specialists, as well as staff and homeless advocates who are looking for people that need shelter and helping to get them inside.

“I want to thank and acknowledge not just the efforts of city and county staff but also the many volunteers who moved quickly to establish this additional site today,” said Mayor Jenny Wilson.

“We will continue to work collaboratively across the board to find solutions for those most in need in our community,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall.

Other reading:

• Monday morning’s cold temperatures nearly set new records
• The Road Home is in need of donations and volunteers this winter
• When it’s this cold, keep your pipes from freezing. Here’s how.
• Why is there an increase of wildlife in SLC neighborhoods?

 

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