Ogden is Different
A New, Innovative Permanent Supportive Housing Project in Ogden up for City Council Vote Jan. 14
OP-Ed by Community Spread podcast host Kevin Lundell
In 2023 the state legislature passed a new law requiring counties across the state to find facilities that can act as “warming centers” for any night that drops below 18 degrees. These are not permanent shelters; we are simply talking about providing a roof over your head and a warm place to sleep on the coldest nights of the year.
In Fruit Heights, a local church volunteered their facility for the pop-up shelter, but during the community meeting where the warming center was being discussed dozens of people showed up to protest the facility.
One woman said, “I don’t want this in any city’s backyard, not just ours.”
Another man said, “It’s not a place that should be here in Fruit Heights!”
In response to the blowback from the community, literally saying “Not in my backyard,” the Mountain Road church was forced to withdraw its facility as a possible site for a warming center.
The turnout and vitriol were even stronger from Kaysville residents as they showed up in droves at a Davis County Commission meeting to protest a new warming center located in an old emissions testing facility.
“We don’t want answers! We don’t want the shelter!” one woman yelled.
Another man interrupted as a commissioner started to read a positive email sent in by another Kaysville resident, and said:
“You chose to listen to the one person rather than the 100 people in front of you.”
Another woman stood up after being warned that she could be removed from the meeting and yelled, “The people that are coming to these homeless shelters do not want help. They’re drug addicts!”
The Kaysville mayor was also there to oppose the warming center and said, “We’re going to continue to stand strong. This is not the place for it. Kaysville is absolutely opposed.”
I cannot stress this enough…We are talking about a warming center, a place where people sleep on the few nights a year when being forced to sleep outside you’ll likely die. I’m honestly shocked and dismayed by the lack of respect for basic human life that was displayed by both of these communities.
The community where I live, Ogden, is different. We also have a proposal on the agenda at our city council meeting that is intended to serve those currently experiencing homelessness. This is not a warming center but a facility that is embracing a new data-driven and scientific approach to solving the challenges of homelessness with what’s called “permanent supportive housing.” It is a facility staffed with 24-hour case management and support that will help chronically homeless individuals become more self-reliant.
This facility is a two-minute walk from my house and I’m saying yes… yes in my backyard. And so are some city officials.
Angela Choberka, who we’ve had on the show, is the only council member who lives in the same neighborhood as the facility, and she is also saying “Yes in my backyard.”
Council member Sean Meyers has expressed that he “strongly supports” the project. However, other council members who look poised to vote against the project.
The fate of 25 of the most chronically homeless individuals in Ogden hangs on the vote of just a couple undecided council members on January 14th.
Yes, there will be some residents who show up to the meeting to oppose housing homeless people. But I say Ogden is different.
I believe the overwhelming majority of our neighborhood will stand up and say yes! They will say, “Yes I want our city to continue to be an example of compassion, morality, and strength.” They will say “Yes, we will continue to do more than our share to help serve our community’s most vulnerable” and “No, we will not let our fear stand in the way of our humanity.”
I listened to the city council meeting in early December when Andi Beadles, the executive director of Weber Housing Authority, presented this “permanent supportive housing” project to the council. After listening to her present a housing solution for the chronically homeless that was innovative, safe, and would cost Ogden taxpayers zero dollars, I wanted to have her on the Community Spread podcast to discuss what I believe is a no-brainer— “yes” for our community.
In preparing for the show I tried to gather difficult questions and concerns from the community and give her an opportunity to respond. Listen to Episode 6: Ogden Is Different to hear how well thought-out this project is.
I truly believe Ogden is different. I believe we will show up to support this project. But it won’t happen on its own. Dear listener, we don't often ask for a call to action but today we are!
If you feel moved by this project and want to help house the unsheltered in permanent supportive housing please reach out to the city council members and let them know you support this project. If you happen to be an Ogden resident make sure you mention that as well.
The biggest and most important thing you could possibly do is join me on Tuesday, January 14th as we fill the council chambers with people who say yes! And we prove that Ogden is indeed…. Different.
Executive Director of Weber Housing Authority Andi Beadles (left) and Community Spread podcast host Kevin Lundell. Photo provided