Room for homeless at 'The Inn'

A boldness echoed through the Christ United Methodist Church chapel as the congregation stood and sang the words to Dan Schutte's 1981 hymn, "Here I am, Lord."

The hymn's symbolic meaning encapsulated the struggle church members endured to have the recently renovated church's basement turned into a proper housing facility so they could better serve Utah's homeless families.

"I will tend the poor and lame, I will set a feast for them," they sang in unison. "My hand will save!"

"The Inn," as it was named, is multipurpose. It is used as classrooms on Sunday and then converted to bedroom areas during the week. It features a large kitchen, showers and laundry facility and can accommodate three to five families a week.

As a part of Family Promise Salt Lake — formerly known as the Salt Lake Interfaith Hospitality Network — the area will provide homeless families meals and lodging at no cost. Volunteers from the congregation provide food and also stay at the facility.

During the day, members in the program are partnered with social workers to help them meet case management goals and regain a stable lifestyle.

"Two-thirds of the homeless in Utah are families with children," said Steve Graham, president of Family Promise. "For whatever reason, somebody falls into homelessness and they try as hard as they can to not depend on anyone else and then they come looking and many of them thank God that Family Promise is there."

The families rotate among different affiliate churches weekly. Most facilities house families four weeks a year, but because "The Inn" was built specifically to cater to the needs of Utah's homeless families, other congregations will be able to volunteer their time there if they don't have adequate facilities to house them.

In May, Natasha White came from Los Angeles to Salt Lake with her son. She knew she needed to change her life, she said, and her daughter worked in Clearfield, so she and her son made the trip to Utah. They came with nothing and, with nowhere to go, they were told to talk to the people at Family Promise.

"From that day on, my whole life changed," White said.

After spending time in the program, White was able to find stable housing and secure a job.

"They brought me a long way and helped me see life a little better," White said.

Rev. Steven Goodier wasn't surprised at his congregation's dedicated support of Family Promise.

"This is a way to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ and provide service to people," Goodier said. "I've been a pastor at a lot of churches, but I've never been a part of a congregation that has been so service oriented."

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