Utah County shortens winter homeless warming center plan, will operate from single location

Gordon told KSL.com on Tuesday that partnering service providers preferred the red building location due to its close proximity to transit and that having one location may eliminate confusion among patrons about which nights each center is open.

“It was eye-opening for me to have them say … ‘Hey, we really like the red building.’ And so then we floated the idea (of) well, do you want to just have one location? And then that may be easier for people,” he said.

Between Oct. 15 and April 30, around 600 unsheltered individuals turned to Utah County’s warming centers for shelter for the 2024-2025 winter season, homeless service providers told KSL.com in April.

That duration has been scaled back for the upcoming winter, with services being provided from Nov. 17 this year until March 3, 2026, though Gordon says the state hasn’t “given its stamp of approval” regarding that factor yet.

“But that was one lesson we learned last year was we didn’t have any of the code blue temperatures during the time frame outside of what we’re doing this year, and haven’t had any for the last five years,” he said.

Gordon went on to say that shortening the length of time services are provided this winter allows the county to staff the center during the months when the weather has the potential to reach dangerously cold levels.

“We want to make sure that we’re available at least through the real harsh winter months, end of November, December (and) January,” he said.

Additionally, to comply with the new state law to enhance security measures, individuals will have to pass through a metal detector and have their bags screened before entering the facility. There will also be a consistent presence of law enforcement on hand, according to the release.

In addition, the winter response task force is putting more emphasis on expanded services to help people exit homelessness— such as resources for job training, detox and sobriety programs, mental health care, and housing placement services.

Rich Piatt, communications manager at Utah County Government, said the county’s winter response plan hopes to help individuals improve their lives beyond just providing shelter.

“We want to give them the tools that they need, not only to survive the night, but to make the rest of their lives better,” he said.

Recognition of service

On Thursday, Gordon received the Outstanding Community Leadership Award from the Utah Homeless Services Board. Though the honor recognizes his role in addressing homelessness in Utah County, he said it is a testament to the power of collaboration.

Gordon noted the collective efforts of various organizations and individuals, including Community Action, Provo Housing Authority, Wasatch Behavioral Health, among other leaders and stakeholders who play a role in advancing the county’s evolving winter response strategy.

“These efforts have been going on for decades; you know this award is so much bigger than me,” he said.

Gordon said the winter response task force has worked hard to build a team that is committed to meeting the needs of the unsheltered in Utah County while also connecting them to long-term resources for healing and self-sufficiency.