Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Human Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge council to address food bank closures and rising youth homelessness
Summary
Two members of the public told the council that the Lighthouse food bank closing has left residents short of services and that displaced teens in the valley need a shelter and programming; callers described personal hardships and asked the city to consider alternatives.
During the public comment period, two residents raised concerns about the closure of the Lighthouse Food Bank and the growing number of displaced teens in the valley.
Ray Patekus of St. Jude's Landing told the council the lighthouse closure "took away the best food bank in town," leaving him and neighbors with fewer accessible options. He said he receives $124 in food stamps and relies on local food banks. "It impacts me in a negative manner," Patekus said, and asked the council to consider relocation of the Lehi House Ministries food bank or to support a replacement site.
Tara Shuttleworth, who said she works with street-involved youth, urged the council to consider shelter and program space for displaced teens. Shuttleworth said Catholic Charities told her there are about 500 displaced teens in the valley and cited national reporting that about half of the unhoused population may come from foster care. She said she has discussed potential shelter space with Dori Foster of the YMCA and noted the old YMCA building was recently sold to a private buyer identified by Shuttleworth only as "Michael." Shuttleworth suggested the city explore philanthropic contributions linked to local development.
Council staff acknowledged receipt of Patekus’s email and said staff would follow up with information. No formal action was taken during the meeting; both comments were part of the public comment period and not an agenda hearing.
