PPC Profiles: Dave Durocher

“Stop making excuses, be accountable.”

Dave Durocher is a Pioneer Park Coalition board member with a unique and valuable perspective on homelessness and drug abuse. As someone who has navigated addiction himself, he knows what it is like to be in that tough situation. Earlier in his life, Dave struggled with drug addiction for about 27 years, and was intermittently homeless himself, allowing him to serve the PPC with experience and knowledge of what it is like to be in the shoes of those who we aim to serve. 

Outside of the PPC, Dave works hard to help reform “the most broken among us” who are ready to accept help. As the Executive Director of The Other Side Academy, he empowers individuals facing severe criminal charges by offering them an alternative. If accepted, participants will “work their guts out”, foster an environment of accountability, and create long-term sustainable change in their lives. The Other Side Academy provides participants with more than just a meal and a roof over their heads. The Other Side Academy is a safe space to work towards change while gaining real and applicable private sector experience for their future. 

Most traditional drug rehab programs typically have a success rate of 5-10%. In stark contrast, 70% of all graduates of The Other Side Academy are employed and maintain a life that’s drug-free and crime-free. 

For Mr. Durocher, the most important factor in success is to “stop making excuses -- and be accountable.” While he articulates this in the context of homelessness and drug reform, I believe that this can be applied further and encompass all facets of life. Whether these words are applied to something as daunting as a lifelong struggle with drug abuse or something as mundane as ending procrastination, it is imperative that we stop our excuses and take responsibility for our actions and our lives as a whole. When we have the courage to be accountable for our actions, we take control of our lives and begin to work towards a brighter future. 

Written by: Anna Henderson, Pioneer Park Coalition

PPC Profiles: Rick Graham

“Be creative. Be bold.”

This is the parting advice that Rick Graham left me after I had the pleasure of interviewing him. Rick, our Vice-Chair, describes himself as “semi-retired” and has proudly served Salt Lake City for 39 years, working with 7 different mayors, and has been with the Pioneer Park Coalition for 8 years. A University of Utah alumnus, this Salt Lake native has worked with parks ever since graduation, and has no intentions of leaving quite yet, saying, “...if I could end my career with the Pioneer Park Coalition, I could have a happy life.”

For now, Rick underscores and emphasizes the current priorities of the PPC:  reducing crime, alleviating drug addiction, and focusing on those that are resistant to homelessness. But in the future, Mr. Graham believes we can beautify and improve the physical space of Pioneer Park. He has high hopes to transform the landscape into an “...iconic public use space that draws people from all over the valley, all over the county, all over the state.” Pioneer Park has great potential to become something great, something that embodies community and truly brings people together. It’s his dream to renovate this green space for the betterment of the public. 

Rick’s passion for parks and community service is evident in our discussion. Although critics of the PPC have characterized us as complainers, neither of us see it that way. Instead, Rick sees this as more of a call to action, explaining that our coalition aims “To be bold, aggressive, and invoke change.” Without passion and without ideas, nothing will change, and homelessness will continue to grow in Salt Lake. The status quo is unacceptable. Rick’s advice about working towards doing good, goes hand in hand with being persistent. As we go forward and seek change, we must all remember to “Be creative.” and “Be bold.” in order to effectively work towards finding sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our community. 

- Anna Henderson

Economic Predictions from the Kem C. Gardner Institute

Deseret News recently interviewed Natalie Gochnour, economist, and Head of the Kem C Gardner Institute, about the economic status of Utah amid the global pandemic. The first question they asked her was to give an economic overview. Her response was, "in terms of a forecast — and I have to make a big assumption that we get a second federal stimulus and no major economic shutdown — then we would say the worst is over, that April 2020 was the peak job loss. Don’t expect a V-shaped recovery but rather a checkmark or a swoosh. The impacts will continue to be uneven. And that’s by socioeconomic, by industry, by race, by geography. We’ll see more disruptions. We’re in a disruption right now. I think we’ll see more but not as severe. And that’s because April was such an overwhelming body blow that seemingly came out of nowhere with no preparation, no adaptations, which we’ve now been able to put in place.

Our recovery very much depends on our actions, and what policies are put in place, and certainly medical science, and then we will see structural changes on their way.

 This is what our unemployment rate looks like today. This job’s report just came out on July 17, so this is very recent data. Utah is in red and the U.S. in gray. Our unemployment rate dropped to 5.1%. That was an incredible surprise to really all of us to see it drop that quickly. And it says something about the degree to which our economy reopened. The governor called it a dial, but we treated it like a switch. And, you know, maybe we will live to regret that a bit."  

They asked Gochnour if she believed that tightening down the economy was the right response to prevent COVID-19 spread. Her response, "You know, that’s a tough question for me because I don’t see all the data. I think that from what I’m seeing, I’m seeing state decision-makers who are trying to really double down on the need for mask-wearing and they’re going to see what it does. So we’re really trying this important experiment about the social cohesion that exists in Utah. They’re spending a lot of money — you’ll see more and more of it spent on public messaging about it. ...The governor has been really clear. If by Aug. 1 this isn’t improved, he’s reassessing his policies.

Here’s the industry makeup. It compares the number of jobs in 2020 and what were they in 2019 and shows the percent difference. And this is a far better picture than we showed 30 days ago, 60 days ago. But you can see the just gut-wrenching impact to leisure and hospitality.

Natural resources is mostly mining and it took a significant hit. So in June, we’re showing some mining distress, which is mostly Utah’s energy sector. Noteworthy is you see construction being a growth industry, as are financial activities, which is related to the CARES Act and how busy that made our financial institutions. We were even able to eke out a little bit of positive growth in our trade transportation utilities sector. This sector includes mostly trade."

 Gochnour and her colleagues at the Kem C. Gardner Institute predict that 2020 will likely be a "lost year" for employment, income, and output in the state. They are hoping that this is only short-term, but its unclear what fall will bring. James Wood, Gardner Institute researcher noted to the Salt Lake Tribune, that in the second half of this year, the economy will bounce back, and Utah leaders won't need to shut down businesses again to contain the virus.

Legislative Update #3

Hello, PPC Members! This week was important for homeless services in the legislature. I had a special part in one of these bills. Up until this point, I’ve been following legislation from the time it is numbered until it reaches the desk of the governor. In the past two weeks, we had the opportunity to help a legislator with a bill before it was publicly available. It is amazing to see the process from the very beginning. Legislators put so much care and thought into their bills—they reach out to so many people for input on their work and are open to all viewpoints. We are honored to have relationships with these leaders that are rooted in trust and respect. 

I wanted to breakdown six major bills that we are following in the 2020 session, that you should pay particular attention to.

1. SB 39 1st Substitute, Affordable Housing Amendments, is a result of a yearlong effort by the Utah Commission on Housing Affordability co-chaired by Senator Jake Anderegg and Representative Val Potter. SB 39 1st Substitute tries to address the shortage of affordable housing in Utah and the lack of rental assistance for low-income individuals and families. The bill request for $35,300,000 will be appropriated to Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund, which currently receives $2,200,000 ongoing from the general fund. The Department of Workforce Services (DWS) estimates that the gap financing will create 2,300 rental units in 2021 and 3,063 households will be helped in 2021 and 2020 respectively. The bill just passed the Senate and moves to the House for deliberation.

2. HB 32 2nd Substitute, Crisis Service Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Steve Eliason and Sen. Daniel Thatcher authorizes each county to operate local mental health services. These operations include providing mental health services, cooperating with efforts of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to promote integrated programs that address individuals’ substance abuse, mental health, and physical healthcare needs. Each county will review the mental health needs of individuals who are incarcerated or in correctional facilities and individuals who require outpatient treatment. Programs will include services for adults, youth, and children. Service providers have the option to utilize Medicaid waivers. The bill requests $12,725,000 for ongoing funding and $12,596,900 of one-time costs. This money will go to mental health programs, personnel costs, and infrastructure changes. The bill just passed in the House and moves to the Senate for further discussion.

3. HB 299 Second Substitute, Opportunity Zone Enhancements, Sponsored by Rep. Mike Winder and Sen. Curtis Bramble, creates tax credits for eligible construction costs in an opportunity zone. These opportunity zones include low-income housing. The Utah Housing Corporation will determine the amount of the tax credit to allocate under the allocation plans. H.B. 0299S02 just passed the House and awaits discussion in the Senate. 

4. HB 394, Homeless and Transitional Housing Program Amendments, sponsored by Representative Kim Coleman is the result of a long effort from homeless advocates to ensure accountability from service providers. HB 394 addresses the lack of coordination between service providers and accurate data. The bill appoints a homeless service director to oversee staffing and recommendations of the Homeless Coordination Committee. The homeless services director will work to ensure that services provided to the homeless by state agencies, local governments, and private organizations are done in a safe, cost-effective, and efficient manner. The bill requests $165,900 of ongoing funding for personnel costs. This is a direct response to our meetings with Dr. Marbut and his call to appoint a leader who we can hold accountable. Rep. Coleman’s bill awaits committee meetings in the House.

5. SB 165, Emergency Response Plans for Homelessness, sponsored by Senator Luz Escamilla ensures that there are emergency response plans that have guidelines for emergencies. The bill requires that the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness are met by locally appropriate agencies by expanding local capacity and infrastructure in emergency situations including development, construction, and emergency shelters. The bill also expands outreach for families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness. This week the bill passed the Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee with a favorable recommendation and moves to be read on the Senate floor.

6. HB 401, Homeless Center Drug-Free Zone, sponsored by Representative Steve Eliason Modifies the penalty for certain crimes committed at a homeless resource center. It is prohibited from producing, manufacturing, or dispensing, or possessing with an intent to produce a controlled or counterfeit substance, or engaging in criminal enterprises that violate the Utah Controlled Substances Act at the site of a homeless resource center. It is prohibited to engage in the aforementioned activities in or on the grounds of a homeless shelter that can provide temporary shelter to between twenty and two hundred people depending on the county. The penalty is a first-degree felony. This bill is awaiting deliberation in committee meetings before going on the floor of the house.  

All six of these bills provide positive steps in homeless services policy. In our visits with Dr. Marbut, he stressed a formula for stable housing: The two components being trauma-informed care and affordable housing. All of these bills connect back to those ideas.

We have two weeks left of the session, which promise to be very busy and fast-paced. If there are any questions about these bills or other legislation please email us at info@pioneerpark.co. You can also follow us on Instagram @pioneerparkco, for live story updates at the Capitol!

Legislative Update #2

Hello, PPC Membership! Last week we had the incredible opportunity to host Dr. Robert Marbut, the Executive Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. He spoke to us about a new initiative of helping homeless populations that puts the focus on trauma-informed care and accessibility to affordable housing. He invited leaders from Salt Lake City, County, and the State Legislature to demand accountability from the service providers. For example, the Pioneer Park Coalition has the opportunity to learn daily from the students at The Other Side Academy. These brave men and women are the perfect illustration of the power that accountability and integrity have to change lives. The program is different from any other rehabilitation program you will ever see, and Dr. Marbut was very impressed when he paid a visit.

Dr. Marbut implored us to shift our policies and actions to those that align with sincere integrity. Utah needs a leader against homelessness to head a concerted effort to hold service providers accountable. This leadership will be supplemented with accurate and descriptive data. Data often cuts through the loudest of noise to show harsh realities.

Following the visit of Dr. Marbut, we had the opportunity to attend a roundtable hosted by The Other Side Academy with Senator Mike Lee. Senator Lee and the students engaged in dialogue on the realities of being homeless and of incarceration. Senator Lee explained the Cobra effect and the parallels it has with homelessness.

During the British colonial rule of India, the government was concerned about the number of venomous Cobras in New Delhi. In an effort to decrease the population, a bounty was offered for every dead cobra. Initially, this policy was successful because the population of deadly snakes decreased dramatically. However, this policy soon backfired when it was discovered that people were making a lot of money operating a cobra-breeding enterprise! When this was made known to the government, they shut down the program, rendering snakes worthless. Instead of solving the problem, this caused cobras to be released back into the wild, thereby increasing the population.

Current homeless systems are facilitating the vicious cycle of cobra breeding. Fortunately, Marbut’s approach breaks the vicious cycle of homelessness. With his plan, there is clear coordination of efforts and specific goals that all providers follow. Senator Lee explained that the federal government is disconnected from the roots of the problems. He is determined to advocate for a system that stops breeding cobras.

In this legislative session, the Pioneer Park Coalition is following legislation that fights homelessness from all sides. In the past two weeks, exciting legislation supporting reducing homelessness was introduced and passed. 

1. Senator Anderegg’s Affordable Housing Bill, SB 39, passed through appropriation committee meetings. He explained his funding structure and broke down where the $20 million will go. Many of the questions from fellow representatives addressed the data disparities. Senator Anderegg stressed that his data is influenced by real people and their specific needs. After this committee meeting, SB 39 has moved to the Senate for its second reading.

2. H.B. 32, Crisis Services Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Eliason increases Mental Health Services for individuals and families. Rep. Eliason has stressed the importance of this bill in filling care gaps for mental health care. These services include providing mental health services, cooperating with efforts of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to promote integrated programs that address individuals’ substance abuse, mental health, and physical healthcare needs. This bill passed unanimously in the House and will now move to be introduced in the Senate.

3. Senator Escamilla introduced SB 165, Emergency Response Plan for Homelessness, that will develop an emergency response plan that is locally appropriate with the council of governments in which guidelines are established during an emergency response. It also ensures that the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness are met in emergencies. The bill expands local capacity and infrastructure in emergencies including development, construction, and improvement of emergency shelters. It facilitates access to emergency services and support for families and individuals in an emergency and expands outreach and education efforts for these individuals and families. This bill is a positive step towards the accountability that Dr. Marbut stressed in our meetings.

These past two weeks have been very important for the Pioneer Park Coalition. I commend you all for doing your part to ensure that no more cobras are bred! If there are any questions or comments about the legislative session or the membership events please contact us at info@pioneerpark.co. If you would like additional updates more frequently, follow us @pioneerparkco, I will be posting Instagram stories in real time while I am at the Capitol!