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Bruce Lindsay reports
Most Salt Lake agencies serving the homeless report a significant increase in demand. News Specialist Bruce Lindsay reports.
"We've increased about 250 people per night throughout the course of the Games," says Matthew Minkevitch, Executive Director of The Road Home, formerly "The Travelers's Aid Society."
It opened a temporary shelter in an old mattress factory, expressly for the increase in homelessness that was anticipated during the Olympics.
"A 'No Vacancy' sign is something we just don't have the liberty of posting," he says.
The Road Home's shelters gave beds to 962 people Monday night, 117 of them children.
The additional homeless don't appear to be people who came to town to watch the Games. Most were already here. Some squeezed out of other housing by Olympic prices. Others had their urban camps busted by security.
And during the Games, temporary labor opportunities for workers at the margins has become very tight.
Charles Carnes is staying at the shelter. "You go over to Labor Ready or Skill Staff, and they're just not sending anybody out because the Olympics has just gotten everything shut down," he told us.
Utah Job Service confirms the spot labor market has slowed dramatically this month. But it anticipates an upturn as the Games clear out next week.
None of this came as a surprise to the Salvation Army, which is serving an extra 300 meals a night.
Major Wayne Froderberg of the Salvation Army says, "There's been an outpouring of resources. Everybody has said, 'We want to include those who are disadvantaged' in the midst of the celebration. And I believe the community has accomplished that. I'm proud to be part of that contribution."
Major Froderberg says one lasting benefit of the Games in Salt Lake may be the legacy of collaboration and cooperation among agencies serving people in need.
