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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joins other community organizations to respond to those who experience homelessness. Today, Church leaders approved a $10 million donation to contribute to the construction and development of additional housing in the Salt Lake valley for those in great need. Funds for this donation are from the Humanitarian Aid Fund of the Church, which comes from the generous voluntary contributions of Church members who have designated their donation for humanitarian purposes.
“Homelessness affects all sectors of our communities,” said Bishop Gérald Caussé, presiding bishop of the Church. “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.”
For 30 years, the nonprofit organization Shelter the Homeless has been coordinating efforts to aid homeless individuals and families in Salt Lake City. The Church’s donation will enable them to achieve better outcomes and ultimately assist those with housing challenges to elevate their personal circumstances.
The Church partners with numerous organizations who share a desire to care for the poor and those in need. We continue to look for ways to support this effort. For example, discussions are ongoing with respect to our Deseret Industries store at 130 East and 700 South in Salt Lake City. The Church has offered the city the option to purchase this property to be used as a future homeless resource center. We are also exploring options for a new Deseret Industries store to address downtown patron and associate needs.