Lantern House opens in Ogden, stands ready 'to light the way for those in need,' director says

Friday, Jun. 26, 2015

OGDEN — The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Lantern House (formerly St. Anne’s Center), was celebrated on June 16 at a ceremony filled with dignitaries, members of the community as well as clients of the center.

The Lantern House is 20,000 square feet larger than the old facility, with 300 beds in separate areas for women, men and families. The new two-story shelter also includes a kitchen/dining room that will seat more than 200 people, as well as an outdoor play area for children. In addition, it will have a satellite office for the Ogden Police Department and provide space for the Midtown Clinic, for medical and dental services.

The new facility, besides having much more space, will be able to provide better services for the community in need, said Jennifer Canter, the director of Lantern House.

“We’re going to be able to provide so many services to so many people in such a much better surrounding than where we came from. The Lantern House will have in-house medical and dental clinics, where people will have access to low-cost health care. It also has a divergent area, where people who are intoxicated or having a mental crisis can go to instead of an emergency room or jail. It’s unlike any other shelter in Utah,” said Canter, adding that the name Lantern House represents its goal, to “light the way for those in need.”

A group of case managers will be available to help individuals who have drug addictions or other issues, Canter said.

The Ogden Police Department, which will have a satellite office in the shelter, said in a news release that the divergent area at the Lantern House for intoxicated people will reduce jail crowding and lessen pressure on the hospital and local police services, reducing the costs as well.

Raising the $8 million for the facility and its construction took a little bit more than five years,  and “was possible through all our benefactors’ generosity, from the guy that works at the dollar store who volunteers here at the kitchen, to institutions such as the LDS Church who donated millions,” said Canter.

Campaign chairs Allan and Kay Lipman said that people in need now will be able to be rehabilitated and get their lives back.

“Our goal was to be able to provide essential services,” Kay Lipman said. “We needed the help of the entire community, and you’ve shown some of that support, working together for the homeless in northern Utah.”

“We are so excited to be able to provide a safe place where people can come and feel safe and secure, and it provides a lot of dignity and privacy for individuals that come to us,” added Canter.

Volunteers for the Lantern Center are welcome; areas include serving lunch, sorting donations, profession services and offering activities. For information, contact Carol Ross, 801-621-5036, or visit http://www.stannescenter.org/volunteer.html.