The Unhoused:

An Expert Panel Discussion on Local Responses to the Homelessness Crisis

Wednesday, March 12 | 7 PM
Free and Open to the Public
RSVP: community@slcjcc.org

Frustration and concern about the rapid growth of homelessness on the Wasatch Front is at an all-time high. But what are organizations doing to try to solve the problem? Join us for a discussion with an expert panel on the local responses to the homelessness crisis. West-side Communities Reporter Jose Davila IV from the Salt Lake Tribune will guide the panel and audience for this informative evening.

About the Moderator and Panelists

Jose Davila IV, West-side Reporter, Salt Lake Tribune

José Davila IV, West-side Communities Reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune
Jose Davila IV covers west-side communities and is a Report for America corps member. He previously worked for KUNR Public Radio in Reno, The Toledo Blade, and the Yale Daily News. He appreciates tips on the west side's best food, great hikes across the state, and pickup volleyball games. Es bilingüe y ama los tostones de su padre más que nada.
https://www.sltrib.com/staff/jdavila4@sltrib.com/

Wayne Niederhauser, Utah Homelessness Coordinator

 Wayne Niederhauser, Utah Homelessness Coordinator
Wayne Niederhauser is a former state legislator serving in the Utah State Senate for twelve and a half years, six of those years as Senate President. The focus of his efforts and leadership was centered around the need to address the challenges of Utah’s amazing growth. His public service now consists of serving full-time as the Utah Homeless Coordinator and on the boards of several non-profit organizations.
https://governor.utah.gov/governors-staff/wayne-niederhauser/

Preston Cochrane, Chief Executive Officer, The Other Side Village

 Preston Cochrane, CEO, The Other Side Village
Preston L. Cochrane serves as the CEO of The Other Side Village, a master-planned therapeutic community offering vocational and life skills training, and permanent, safe, and affordable housing. The Village fosters personal growth, peer accountability, authentic social connection, self-sufficiency, and access to employment opportunities for individuals with a history of chronic homelessness. Preston’s leadership experience spans multiple organizations, including roles as Vice President of Housing & Support Services at Valley Behavioral Health, Executive Director of Shelter the Homeless, CEO of American Research Bureau, and CEO/Co-Founder of AAA Fair Credit Foundation. A champion of financial capability and economic inclusion, Preston has developed numerous impactful initiatives.
https://theothersidevillage.com/the-village-team/ 

Allan Kent Powell, Retired Senior State Historian

Allan Kent Powell, Retired Senior State Historian
Allan Kent Powell retired in 2013 as managing editor of the Utah Historical Quarterly and as Senior State Historian at the Utah State Historical Society. He is the premier scholar of Nels Anderson. Nels was a pioneering sociologist who in 1923 published the first comprehensive study of the unhoused in the United States entitled: The Hobo.
https://www.librarything.com/author/powellallankent

Sarah Strang, Chief Operating Officer, The Road Home

 Sarah Strang, COO, The Road Home
Sarah Strang is the Chief Operating Officer, managing resource centers, overflow shelter, and crisis programs. She holds a Master’s in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, working for 15 years in the field. Sarah has expertise in programs that serve people in housing crises, including families, young adults, and children.
https://theroadhome.org/team/sarah-strang/

Jeniece Olsen, Chief Operating Officer, The Fourth Street Clinic

 Jeniece Olsen, COO, The Fourth Street Clinic
Jeniece Olsen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with two decades of experience in housing and homelessness, both in the US and in Australia. She received a master’s in Social Work from the University of Utah. For over a decade, Jeniece worked at The Road Home in Salt Lake City, providing and overseeing affordable housing and stabilization services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. During her time there, she was involved in affordable housing advocacy and has a deep understanding of social determinants of health as they relate to recovery from homelessness. Jeniece currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Fourth Street Clinic, overseeing both central clinic operations and outreach services at multiple locations across Salt Lake County.
https://fourthstreetclinic.org/jeniece-olsen-2/

This event and all events in our Centennial Series are made possible by generous funding from: