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Harris Simmons, former chairman of Shelter the Homeless, reflects on 40 years.

Simmons helped establish Salt Lake Community Shelter after a call from Mayor Palmer DePaulis.

Josh Romney takes over as chairman; Simmons remains involved, acknowledging homelessness persists.

SALT LAKE CITY — It happened nearly 40 years ago, but the image remains seared in Harris Simmons' brain.

It was the grand opening of the homeless shelter at 210 S. Rio Grande Street in Salt Lake City. Harris was there because three years earlier he'd answered a phone call from Salt Lake City's mayor, Palmer DePaulis, asking for help building a home for homeless people.

"Somebody had frozen to death on the street, and it really bothered him," remembers Simmons. "Palmer j

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