The Homeless Outreach Service Team, aka HOST, is a proactive and collaborative effort to move the community in Salt Lake City, into a partnership with the police and homeless service providers to connect homeless individuals with social services and resources. 100% of donations go to the Pamela J. Atkinson foundation and are dispersed to local homeless services providers that provide help for those that need it most.
We encourage you to double your donation thanks to a generous dollar-for-dollar match by the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Foundation’s $10 Million Challenge Grant.
Panhandling
When people approach you to ask for money, sometimes they really need help. But in many cases, they are not homeless. Often times, panhandlers use the money you give them to fuel addictions and other self-destructive behaviors.
Even small donations can help to create significant programs to help people in need. Social service organizations in Salt Lake City provide services for people who find themselves in need, but they can't do it without your support. Instead of giving spare change to panhandlers, please consider making a generous donation of money or time to the community organizations dedicated to solving problems and helping the homeless.
Downtown social service providers include:
- Catholic Community Services: Weigand Homeless Day Center
- Catholic Community Services: St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall
- The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake
- Volunteers of America
- The Fourth Street Clinic
Panhandling is not an issue unique to downtown or Salt Lake City — it is a problem in communities across the Wasatch Front and across the nation. Every problem has a solution. Decide to help fight homelessness in a way that benefits the entire community. Then you can know you've given, without being taken.
Know where your money goes and turn "spare change into real change."
Read more about Homeless Outreach efforts or HOST Team in Salt Lake City »