Governor Gary Herbert says he hopes Utahns will increase their donations to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund when filing their Utah State Tax return. He spoke at an event promoting the fund Thursday at the YWCA Center for Families. He says a 50 percent increase from 2 dollars to 3 is not too much to ask in a state that leads the nation in charity and volunteerism.
Pamela Atkinson talked about a young family she met Wednesday night at the St. Vincent DePaul Soap Kitchen. She says, despite their struggles, she could clearly see they had already accomplished a lot.
“You know what a privilege to be able to help people and know that it’s all part of the team. I know Utah is unique in so many ways but one of the greatest ways that we’re unique is shown through the collaborative efforts that all of the providers who are serving people who are homeless or living in poverty," says Atkinson. "It is shear collaboration.”
Atkinson says there are thousands of quantifiable outcomes like that family who rely on resources and support provided by the fund.
Anne Burkholder, CEO of YWCA Utah says statewide homelessness due to domestic violence has increased 41 percent in the past five years.