Dear Friends of The INN Between,
As I reflect on this past year, my thoughts gravitate toward the diverse residents who have passed through our doors. Some left healthier, triumphing over health crises and homelessness, and some left us through a peaceful, dignified death. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, The INN Between served an unprecedented 35% more individuals than ever before. Regrettably, the demand for a haven for those in need of medical or hospice care continues to surge.
Just one week ago, HUD released the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) revealing that in January 2023, our country reported the highest number of people reported as being unhoused since reporting began in 2007. Among these individuals experiencing homelessness, 60% were staying in sheltered locations, while 40% endured unsheltered homelessness in places not meant for human habitation such as the streets, abandoned buildings, or RV's and tents without water and electricity. For these individuals, the notion of feeling valued and worthy of compassion seems a distant reality.
Today, the number of residents that have called The INN Between home at the end of life, increased to 128, and our total individuals served is nearing 800 since we opened in 2015.
In eight years, The INN Between has been honored to provide care for those 800 individuals often marginalized by society, denied dignity and respect, and who feel they have no worth. These are our neighbors, friends, family members-above all, fellow humans susceptible to the harsh stereotypes associated with homelessness.
This winter season, we invite you to recognize the value and worth in exposing your community to compassion, dignity, and respect. Exposure to love versus exposure to the elements on the street. Your support has shown the medically frail and terminally ill adults experiencing homelessness how much they are valued, loved, and respected as humans. Every dollar of your donation goes towards the people, resources, and facilities that allow us to alleviate needless suffering and prevent deaths on the streets of our community.
What has been amazing this year is witnessing individuals begin to see and believe they deserve compassion, community, dignity, and respect. The profound impact of exposure to these most basic human rights has dramatically changed the lives of our residents. We have seen this through the many beautiful pieces of media that have captured poignant moments as our residents navigate through the intersection of humanity. See further details on these captivating narratives below.
2023 Highlights
The place where no one dies alone
After 17 months in the making, Deseret News produced a prolific piece highlighting the impactful work taking place at The INN Between. If you haven't had the opportunity to delve into this article or appreciate the stunning imagery, we highly recommend it. We hope this piece has you feeling as proud as we are that this facility exists in Utah. Lois Collins said it best, “Dignity and comfort were the gifts The INN Between was built to provide to those who lacked almost everything else, though love and camaraderie almost immediately became part of the package.” To read more, click on the image.
Cancer treatment for homeless people in Salt Lake City needed ‘desperately’
Featuring our thoughtful, caring and genuinely talented resident, Darren, this piece delves into the circumstances that led him to homelessness, how traumatic being unsheltered can be, and how he is fighting his disease and not giving up hope while living at The INN Between. To read more, click on the image below.
Sharing the Success
Over the last year, our commitment to sharing our narrative with the media was driven by the desire to shed light on the pressing needs and suffering of our unsheltered community members. Beyond media engagement, we sought opportunities to contribute to conferences, further amplifying our advocacy.
In April, I presented at the National Healthcare for the Homeless Conference, discussing the need for both a Medical Respite and End-of-life Care facility for the unsheltered in major communities. Another impactful presentation was delivered at the Hospice, Palliative, and Homecare Service Partners in Care Conference in Oregon, where we talked about the far-reaching effects on our local community and substantial benefits it yields for both individuals and the community at large. Then in September, Kellie and I presented locally at the Office of Homeless Services 19th Annual Homelessness Conference to highlight the success of our program. These engagements underscore our dedication to actionable change in addressing the complexities of homelessness and end-of-life care.
Deseret Magazine The Last Word - Gentle Endings
In the December 2023 edition of Deseret Magazine, featuring in-depth journalism, unique voices, and principled points of view, a touching story provides a beautiful and insightful glimpse into the motivations behind my dedicated investment of time and wholehearted commitment to the impactful work being carried out by The INN Between. It's a reflective journey into the purpose and passion that fuels our collective mission.
2 More Podcasts in the Air!
We were thrilled to accept an invitation to discuss the significant work we are doing on the Tanner Impact Podcast. Tune in as I share the captivating story of The INN Between and broaden the understanding of individuals facing medical challenges and end-of-life needs in the face of homelessness. Subsequently, I was invited to sit down with Richard Markosian and Utah Stories for a discussion on the challenges of providing homeless adults optimal affordable care in the midst of a housing crisis.
The Heavenly House
From the cover of The LA Times to VRT in Belgium, The INN Between's model program has garnered International attention. This September, we hosted a visit from the news station VRT. Over a short three-day weekend, Bjorn Soenens and Daan Wallis, documented the lives of our residents, captured the uplifting journey of a healed resident's discharge, and sensitively covered the memorial and candle lighting ceremony for a recently passed resident. This news documentary has given us the unique opportunity to share our mission in action. This you have to see, and we recommend grabbing a tissue or two.
These highlights extend beyond the physical structure of our building and the dedicated efforts of our staff and volunteers. They encapsulate the profound work being done to aid vulnerable adults experiencing homelessness and a medical crisis at the same time. They are about the lives of individuals often forgotten and stereotyped. These highlights affirm that The INN Between is truly at the intersection of humanity, where individuals grapple with the fight to stay alive and others contend with the struggle to let go.
Once again, we express our heartfelt gratitude for supporting this critical work. Supporting The INN Between means that individuals experiencing homelessness have a chance to heal, transforming their lives to make this part of their lives brief and nonrecurring. On behalf of the staff and the individuals we serve, thank you for being an essential part of this critical work throughout 2023 and in to 2024.
Respectfully,
Jillian Olmsted
Executive Director
801-456-4567