Joe Taylor from Springville was a company executive for an aerospace firm, active in church and civic assignments throughout his life. Struggling with mental illness, he now spends most of his days in the park reading. He is homeless. His children bring him gifts and give them to the staff at the Food and Care Coalition, who pass them along to him.

Mapleton resident Brent Crane is a true believer and what he believes in is the Food and Care Coalition, a privately funded resource for the homeless in south Provo, a resource which provides the closest services for Springville and Mapleton.

Crane, the Coalition's executive director, emphasizes that what defines who is homeless is diversity. Learning disabilities, abuse, generational poverty, schizophrenia, aging out of the foster care system, single parenting, and addiction are main contributors leading to homelessness. "Lack of education, knowledge of resources, values and cultural set make it difficult for some to interact with our community," he said.

Addiction is one issue, but Crane says, if children are not adopted by 18 months, they are probably not going to be adopted and will face the problems and challenges of being in the system, and would probably eventually be out in the streets. Many mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, do not show up until people are in their 20's and 30's and unless a person is physically harming themselves or others, they cannot be committed without their cooperation, which is frequently not possible.

On any given night, there are between 250-500 people sleeping in the street, in cars, storage units and with friends because they are without homes in Utah County. There were 3200 unduplicated requests for shelter last year alone and 100,000 meals were served. Crane says the reality is that some clients seek shelter in jail during the winter months, stealing a sweater from a store or disrupting the peace in order to be arrested.

"A lot come in and use our facilities and move on," said Crane.

The list of celebrities who were homeless fills one of the many displays around the building that remind the visitor of the mission and goal of the coalition. Jim Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Cary Grant and Colonel Sanders are but a few.

Friends of the Coalition, the organization that owns the Coalition, was incorporated in 1988 to serve the homeless community. Since that time they have operated from four different facilities with the last being the new building which opened this September. Crane is proud that 99.9% of the building was privately funded, with $1.7 million donated by one contractor who did, among other things, the sidewalks.

Less than $4000 was spent on furnishings, with beautiful paintings and sculpture donated by artists such as Springville sculptor Gary Price, whose piece "Synergy," showing hands clasped in a circle, greets visitors in the lobby.

There are only six, full-time and seven, part-time employees, however over 50,000 hours are donated by volunteers each year, the equivalent of 25 full-time employees. Numerous grants have also provided funds.

Crane hopes the beauty of the new facility will inspire clients "to rise to the level of this facility." One of his goals to is help them realize "the key is within you to empower you."

The Food and Care Coalition is located at 299 E. 900 South in Provo, next to Maaco Collision Repair. They provide facilities for laundry and showers, a computer lab, dental care, with the proper recommendation; hair care, and meals. They can also provide vouchers for temporary shelter. A facility is also being built for more permanent housing to give clients time to stabilize "to get their ducks in a row."

Crane said, "It's not like they don't want to improve, they just need time."

For donation suggestions, please call Nancy at 801-373-1825.