Cedar City proclaims November Homeless Youth Awareness Month; council urged to fund first-responder mental health supports

Mayor Garth O’Brien opened the Oct. 22 work meeting by reading a proclamation declaring November as Homeless Youth Awareness Month, credited Youth Futures with providing emergency shelter and safe housing for more than 298 young people in the past year, and cited an 80% program success rate in preventing adult homelessness among youth served. The proclamation calls on residents, businesses, schools and civic partners to support shelter and services.

Councilman Ron Riddle followed with a public statement honoring the late firefighter Scott Carlisle and urged the council to make mental‑health support for police and fire personnel more accessible. Riddle proposed that each member of those departments meet with mental-health professionals “at least once a quarter” and recommended that the city identify recurring budget funds and pursue grants to help cover counseling and related services. “By pursuing these opportunities, we can further ensure that financial constraints do not hinder our ability to support our first responders,” Riddle said.

Mayor and several council members voiced support for Riddle’s proposal during the meeting, noting the city’s upcoming budget cycle as the time to prioritize mental‑health resources. No formal vote occurred in the work meeting; the item was discussed as a council priority to be considered during budgeting and grant searches.

Next steps: staff indicated budget discussion will occur as part of upcoming budget planning; council directed staff to consider funding pathways and potential grant opportunities.