The Island Wave Podcast Community Health Worker Series Episode 9: Wendy Garvin

On this episode we talk to Wendy Garvin, Founder of Unsheltered Utah. We first learn how she was inspired to begin the organization. We hear about what happens during abatements and how Unsheltered Utah is ready to activate a response; To assist the unsheltered community to move and save their belongings, but also to be emotional support for them to endure what is to come. Wendy walks us through what they must face when attempting to provide resources for their unsheltered clients, with no place to go.

We learn that most of the resources, and unsheltered community, are within the confines of Salt Lake City and other cities within the county have said they do not want the community or services in theirs. We also compare the Salt Lake County Homeless policies to the likes of the Honolulu County. Where one can be compensated for being homeless and take advantage of a waiver for a photo ID, for comparison of policies created to provide a cohesive plan throughout the island chain.

We ask Wendy about barriers the unsheltered community might face when seeking resources like food, housing, and healthcare. She shares some of the conversations she has had with service providers to advocate for their care. We learn about the policy experts who advocate for their work in responding to the needs of the unsheltered community.

Wendy shares her research in understanding the expense of our current Utah homeless policy verses one more conducive to the human condition. She states that Utah could spend approximately $13,000 per person per year to house them and provide wrap around services to improve their livelihood. Instead, we spend $98,000 per person per year for homeless resource centers, policing and jail.

We learn about the barriers to dietary specific food and the limited ability one has to cook over an open flame on the street. We hear about the work Unsheltered Utah does to partner with organizations to fulfill clients’ specific needs. As well they work to provide public service education for health and personal safety, like carbon monoxide poisoning. Wendy reminds us about the intersectionality and diverse populations that our unsheltered relatives represent.

Finally, we hear about efforts to provide health care to the unsheltered population in the field, through an Andy’s clinic implemented by Dr. Jen Plumb. We learn that homelessness is not a burden or problem to focus on but a response to complex traumas and social determinants of health that have been unaddressed, untreated, and even denied for a long period of time.

To support Unsheltered Utah by donation: http://unshelteredutah.org/donate/

To volunteer for Unsheltered Utah: http://unshelteredutah.org/volunteers/

To provide the resource of needed items: http://unshelteredutah.org/most-needed-items/

*Special thanks to Talia Keys

~ Mahalo