The Salt Lake Rotary Club is excited to announce they have been awarded $2.9 million through the Utah Office of Homeless Services Deeply Affordable Housing Grant. This funding allows Salt Lake Rotary to immediately purchase housing to expand the Salt Lake County Youth Services Milestone Transitional Living Program (TLP).
These funds bolster Salt Lake Rotary’s fundraising efforts to expand the Salt Lake County Youth Services Milestone TLP for young adults experiencing homelessness. The Milestone TLP provides crucial housing and support services for young adults 18 to 21 who have aged out of the foster care system or are at risk of homelessness.
First lady Abby Cox says, “I am profoundly inspired by the dedication of the Salt Lake Rotary Club and their unwavering commitment to our community’s youth. This significant grant reaffirms the importance of the Milestone Transitional Living Program. It stands as a testament that when we rally around a cause, transformative change is possible. Every young adult deserves stability and guidance, and it’s upon us as a community to ensure that those who’ve aged out of foster care are given the foundation for a promising future. This is Utah showing its heart, and I am filled with hope for what’s to come.”
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson says, “This initiative resonates with Salt Lake County’s core values of inclusivity and compassion, aiding unsheltered youth in reclaiming their lives. The dedication of the Salt Lake Rotary Club in confronting homelessness head-on is truly inspirational. I am optimistic that this funding will usher in positive transformations for these young people who are seeking guidance to stabilize their lives. This type of bold intervention will make a generational impact on these young people and their families.”
The Milestone TLP currently provides housing for young adults for up to 18 months and offers services such as case management, life skills training, education and employment support and mental health counseling. With more than 120 young people aging out of the foster care system in Utah each year, especially in Salt Lake County, additional housing is crucial to address the increase in youth experiencing homelessness.
“It’s been said that it takes a village to take care of our young, and the partnership with the Salt Lake City Rotary Club provides the opportunity for youth experiencing homelessness in our community to change the trajectory of their lives,” says Mina Koplin, current section manager of Salt Lake County Youth Services and former program manager of the Milestone TLP for more than eight years.
For more information on Milestone TLP visit slco.to/milestone
