Experts weigh new approach to solving homelessness.

• Author: Christensen, Lisa
• Position: Around Utah

Salt Lake City -- The homeless population in Salt Lake has traditionally been aided by a single, centralized regional hub. But experts argue that a more scattered approach might be more effective in the prevention and recovery of homelessness.

That means scattering centers to help homeless and those who are in danger of becoming homeless across the Wasatch Front, rather than centralizing those services, said panelists at a recent discussion held by the URBAN LAND INSTITUTE OF UTAH.

"The entire services system right now is bottlenecking in the Rio Grande area," said Shaleane Gee, director of special programs and partnerships for SALT LAKE COUNTY. "That has been the magnet for services, funding, the homeless, and it's kind of the gateway for all services across the Salt Lake County."

Gee said because of the way these programs are structured, it's far easier to access them if a person is actually homeless versus in critical danger of becoming homeless. Under the new, decentralized model, those services would attempt to help those in critical risk of homelessness before they need a shelter.

Micah Peters, CEO of CLEARWATER HOMES, said a scattershot model would also allow people from various populations within the homeless population--victims of domestic violence, people who have lost their homes due to medical bills, recently released inmates, young adults who have recently aged out of the foster care system or have no family assistance, veterans, people struggling with mental illness or drug addiction--to get the specialized help they need to help them get back on their feet.

"When you broadbrush the homeless population and say we're going to deal with it this way, it's very ineffective," he said. "The scattered-site construct is going to allow us to address each of those populations, which will be much more effective."

Both Gee and Peters said homeless shelters are used far too often in addressing...