The Road Home announced the completion of its new Midvale Community Winter Shelter, at 529 W. 7300 South in Midvale, just in time to provide refuge for homeless families during potentially life-threating cold weather.
The facility will offer temporary shelter for families 24 hours a day from October through March, when the need for shelter traditionally increases.
“We’re glad to have the Midvale shelter open so that we can accommodate families during the cold winter months,” said Executive Director of the Road Home Matt Minkevitch. “We anticipate that 300 low-income families will find temporary shelter there this year.”
The Road Home took on a capital project to build a new winter shelter on the site of a warehouse built in the 1940’s that had served as a temporary winter shelter since 1989. Work began in March 2015 to build the new shelter that would humanely house more than 300 people nightly in a safe and secure facility, with adequate restrooms, kitchen, laundry room and community space. The new shelter will also offer private meeting space for families where they can sit down together for a meal, and dedicated space for caseworkers.
“We’re very grateful to NJRA Architects for designing this beautiful new building, and to Hogan & Associates Construction for working tirelessly to finish the project,” said Minkevitch. “We also want to say thank you again to all the organizations and individuals who donated funds to finance the rebuilding of the shelter, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Foundation, the Larry H. and Gail Miller Foundation, and the Utah State Legislature.”
The Road Home is the largest operator of homeless services in Utah. In addition to operating two shelters, The Road Home provides emergency services, case management and housing solutions, to help its clients become independent and step into affordable permanent housing.
The 2015 Utah Point-in-Time Count estimates that 14,516 people will experience homelessness in Utah this year. The Road Home provides temporary shelter to an average of 1,050 adults and children on any given day during the winter months.
“The Road Home and its community partners, serve as a lifeline for the children and adults who are experiencing homelessness along the Wasatch Front,” said Minkevitch. “And, tackling the critical needs of so many Utahns during the winter months creates an increased need for funding and in-kind donations.”
The non-profit is happy to receive online donations at www.Theroadhome.org and donations of warm clothing, blankets and coats at the Main Shelter, 210 South Rio Grande St. (455 West) in Salt Lake City, and the Community Winter Shelter at 529 West 7300 South (9th Avenue) in Midvale.
