Requested Agenda Date:
10/12/2021
Requested Agenda Title:
Title
A Resolution of the Salt Lake County Council Approving a Contribution in the Amount of Two Million Dollars to the Friends of Switchpoint INC., a Nonprofit Entity
Body
Requested Agenda Item Description: The Friends of Switchpoint Inc., d/b/a/ Switchpoint Community Resource Center (Switchpoint), is a homeless service provider, originally based in St. George, Utah, that expanded into the Salt Lake area last year when it opened a winter overflow shelter at the then shuttered Airport Inn Hotel, located at 2333 West North Temple. At that time, Switchpoint was leasing the property and it is now under contract to purchase the facility, with an expected closing date of no later than the end of this year (December 31, 2021). If purchased, the facility will be remodeled and run as a non-congregant housing opportunity for the unsheltered homeless population, to be known as "The Point." The renovated facility will house 130 homeless individuals in studio style apartment units on a short-term rental basis. The occupants will also receive training and will be placed in nearby employment opportunities. The total estimated cost for the project is $9,500,000 ($6,500,000 for the hotel acquisition and $3,000,000 for the renovations). To date, Switchpoint has raised $4,000,000 for the project and has requests out for the remaining funds. Switchpoint has requested a $2,000,000 contribution from Salt Lake County, and the Mayor's Administration is recommending approval of that request, to be paid out of the County's COVID Recovery Budget. There is also a project request in the amount of $3,000,000 pending with the State of Utah Governor's Office of Planning & Budget's COVID-19 Local Assistance Matching Program. Upon completion, this project will serve as a much-needed addition to the inventory of housing options required to address the limited capacity of existing facilities serving our homeless community.
Request...
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