Utah’s Best Friends Animal Society breaks ground on staff housing project
Sep 29, 2022, 1:24 PM | Updated: Sep 30, 2022, 9:15 am
KANAB, Utah — The Best Friends Animal Society is building 24 housing units for its employees in an effort to retain staff at its headquarters in southern Utah.
Best Friends Animal Society breaks ground on project that will provide housing for employees. (Best Friends Animal Society)
The animal sanctuary’s headquarters, along with more than half of its 850 employees, are located in Kanab, where the group is struggling to fill the 42 available jobs. So it began a project to build 12 duplex units with one-, two- and three-bedroom options in order for staff to have a place to live.
“We need people. Period. That’s why we made the commitment to building housing for our staff,” said Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle. “And not just any housing, but beautiful, pet-friendly homes, with private yards, garages and all appliances.”
The estimated $6 million project will employ a local contractor, with buildings set to be completed in early 2023. Best Friends said it will charge employees a fair market rent while making the price as cost-effective as possible for staff.
“This is more than an investment in real estate, it’s an investment in our community, our staff and in our mission,” Castle said.
