SALT LAKE CITY — Fox 13 News has learned that approximately 130 people experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake County are being moved to a hotel to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
It's an effort by the county to protect some of the most vulnerable people in the homeless community.
The people moving into the hotel are either over the age of 60 or have underlying health issues, or both.
They’ll be coming from the Gail Miller Resource Center, the Men’s Resource Center, the Geraldine E. King Resource Center and the Weigand Homeless Resource Center.
Salt Lake County hopes this will allow for better social distancing within the homeless resource centers.
The county is leasing an entire hotel, but due to privacy and safety concerns, they're not saying which hotel.
“We are essentially encouraging them to stay home, stay safe in those hotel rooms," said Katherine Fife, Director of Programs and Partnerships with Salt Lake County. "Just hunkering down and keeping well and really practicing some extreme social distancing.”
People began to move into the hotel on Friday and more will make the transition over the next few days.
Case managers and added security will be on site to support and protect those making the move.
The county will lease the hotel for at least two weeks and will then reassess.
