By Travis Barton | [email protected]

The South Jordan City Council unanimously approved $228,033 to be allocated to public services, infrastructure improvements and planning and administration. 

This money is authorized for 2018–2019, South Jordan’s seventh year receiving the annual grant.

This comes from the annual disbursement of Community Development Block Grant funds, a federal program run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development since 1974. It aims to provide communities with resources to address community development needs.

Of the almost $230,000 available, the largest portion, $150,033, is for ADA ramps around the city. David Mann, city planner, said many ramps around the city were found to be “out of compliance,” so this funding will replace those ramps.

Planning and administration receives $44,000 (which has a 20 percent cap). Public services gets $34,000 that goes toward places such as homeless shelters and hospice care, a domestic violence shelter, legal support and food pantries. Public services can only receive 15 percent of the total funds. 

A committee made up of city staff review applications from various services before allocating money to various public services. This year included The Road Home, South Valley Sanctuary, Roseman University of Health Sciences, Utah Community Action, Legal Aid Society and the INN Between. 

“(We’re) grateful for the chance we have to partner with you,” said South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey during the June 5 city council meeting. “And we appreciate all the services that you provide to our residents here in South Jordan.” 

The INN Between, which provides hospice for the homeless, recently moved into a new 25-bed building. CEO Kim Correa told the city council they treated two South Jordan residents last year and expect to treat anywhere from three to six this year. 

Peggy Daniel of South Valley Sanctuary, a domestic violence victim shelter and services, said they expect to serve about 40 South Jordan residents in the next year, which she expects to cost about $60,000. She warned the number of victims are not decreasing. 

“Domestic violence victims are the highest subpopulation of our homeless,” she said. “We appreciate the funding you’ve given us in the past and continue to do so.”

Other groups such as Roseman University (located in South Jordan) and the Legal Aid Society also expressed their gratitude to city officials for the grant money. 

City council members were happy to see Roseman University (which was not granted funds last year) included on the 2018–2019 list due to its location in South Jordan as opposed to the other services spread around the valley. A few councilmembers requested in future years that groups be required to demonstrate how city residents will be aided by such services.