Homeless Services was a topic at the joint city/county meeting on Wednesday afternoon between elected officials from Vernal City and Uintah County, along with members of the public. Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion shared highlights from the discussion with Evans Family Media. “The Turning Point homeless shelter in Uintah County was closed by the County Commissioners in the fall of 2020. Since then, temporary housing options have been limited, primarily consisting of motel vouchers from UBAOG as funding permits. While these vouchers provide short-term relief, they do not address long-term needs and lack the necessary accountability and social services,” explains Bennion. “The discussion at this week’s public meeting touched on the current status of services and the desired level of support in the community. The challenges resulting from the absence of an active shelter were highlighted, particularly the strain on law enforcement who are frequently called to address issues such as loitering, trespassing, and camping. Attendees also discussed the possibility of establishing a warming center with a new nonprofit organization. Some attendees expressed support for exploring the reintroduction of a homeless shelter to serve the tri-county area. While no decisions were made, the preliminary discussions brought this issue to the forefront and sparked conversations about finding longer-term solutions.”
