Sandy planning commission approves permit for homeless facility for medically vulnerable

September 11, 2023 by Nicole Mason
Local

https://kutv.com/news/local/sandy-planning-commission-approves-permit-for-homeless-facility-for-medically-vulnerable

by Jim Spiewak, KUTV

SANDY, Utah (KUTV) — An hours long debate ensued Thursday evening over opening a facility to house medically vulnerable homeless people in Sandy.

Shelter the Homeless owns the site at the vacant Econo Lodge 8955 South Harrison Street in Sandy.

After more than 3 hours of debate and public comment the Sandy City Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit in accordance with 15 conditions that include a maximum occupancy of 165 people, police track all calls and reports to the property and provide a semi-annual report.

Other conditions for the conditional use permit that Shelter the Homeless is applying for include allowing only referrals from hospitals and other homeless service providers, discrete signage to ensure the facility is inconspicuous, creating a security plan including 24/7 security and having residents sign a code of conduct.

Visitors will not be allowed.

The commission also recommended to amended the actual definition of transitional housing facility to be different than a homeless shelter.

A lot of residents spoke in opposition of this facility Thursday evening and a few spoke in favor.

Representatives from Shelter the Homeless call this facility a bridge until the residents can find housing.

They say the typical population will be homeless veterans and the aging homeless population, over the age of 18, that have ongoing chronic medical care needs.

The facility doesn’t have the green light to open and operate just yet.

The application still requires city council approval.

Shelter the Homeless hopes to have the permit approved and the facility up and running by the winter.