H.J.R. 9

1

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO
2 END HOMELESSNESS
3 2004 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: David Clark
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This joint resolution of the Legislature expresses support for President Bush's
10 Samaritan Initiative and recognizes the need for efforts to end homelessness in the state
11 of Utah.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . expresses support for President Bush's Samaritan Initiative to end chronic
15 homelessness;
16 . recognizes that funding for the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund and the
17 Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund is critical to efforts to end homelessness; and
18 . expresses support for the State Homeless Coordinating Committee and its efforts to
19 facilitate interagency collaboration to end homelessness.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
22
23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 WHEREAS, on any given night between 2,000 and 3,000 people in Utah experience
25 homelessness;
26 WHEREAS, these homeless families and individuals are forced to live in homeless
27 shelters, domestic violence shelters, under viaducts, in their cars, along rivers, in the woods and

28 in caves, or doubled up involuntarily in others' homes;
29 WHEREAS, over the course of the 2001-02 school year, 8,500 school-aged children in
30 Utah experienced homelessness;
31 WHEREAS, approximately 1,500 of Utah's homeless are chronically homeless,
32 meaning that they are individuals who have been homeless for at least a year and have a
33 disabling physical condition or mental illness;
34 WHEREAS, 35% of homeless people work but do not earn enough to afford housing,
35 child care, and transportation;
36 WHEREAS, 16% of Utah's homeless are veterans;
37 WHEREAS, well-documented and effective solutions to end chronic homelessness
38 exist and could be implemented in Utah with adequate funding; and
39 WHEREAS, President Bush has launched an initiative, referred to as the Samaritan
40 Initiative, to end chronic homelessness:
41 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
42 expresses support for President Bush's initiative to end chronic homelessness.
43 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature recognizes that ending chronic
44 homelessness is only a first step and supports efforts to end homelessness for families and
45 individuals who are temporarily homeless.
46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature recognizes that funding for the
47 Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund and the Olene Walker Housing Trust Fund is critical to
48 meet the goal of ending all homelessness.
49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports the State Homeless
50 Coordinating Committee and its efforts to facilitate interagency collaboration to end
51 homelessness.
52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the State
53 Homeless Coordinating Committee and to President George W. Bush.

Legislative Review Note
as of 1-20-04 3:59 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel