Church Donates $10 Million to Help the Homeless in Salt Lake Area
Contributed By Marianne Holman Prescott, Church News staff writer
The Church announced a donation of $10 million and plans to join other community organizations to respond to those who experience homelessness.
Article Highlights
- Church donates $10 million toward construction and development of housing in the Salt Lake area.
- Funds came from Church members’ donations to the Humanitarian Aid Fund.
“Around the world, we join hands and hearts with dozens of partners engaged in alleviating suffering in their respective communities, and in the process we point people towards greater self-reliance.” —Bishop Gérald Caussé, Presiding Bishop
The Church announced on November 2 a $10 million donation and plans to join other community organizations to help people in the Salt Lake Valley experiencing homelessness.
“Homelessness affects all sectors of our communities,” said Bishop Gérald Caussé, Presiding Bishop of the Church, in a Mormon Newsroom press release. “Around the world, we join hands and hearts with dozens of partners engaged in alleviating suffering in their respective communities, and in the process we point people towards greater self-reliance.”
Funds for the donation come from the Humanitarian Aid Fund of the Church—a fund that comes from donations of Church members who have designated their donation for humanitarian purposes—and will be used to contribute to the construction and development of housing in the Salt Lake area.
For the past three decades the nonprofit organization Shelter the Homeless has been coordinating efforts to aid individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The Church plans to continue to partner with community organizations who are working to help those in need by elevating their circumstances.
In addition to the announcement, the Church continues to look for ways to partner with others in an effort to care for the poor and those in need. One topic of discussion is an offer from the Church to sell the Deseret Industries store at 130 East and 700 South to Salt Lake City. This offer is meant to help in creating a homeless resource center for people in need in the area. The Church is also exploring options for a new Deseret Industries store to address downtown patron and associate needs.
