Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
National
Mackenzie Mays

The place where homeless people come to die with dignity

SALT LAKE CITY — Hanging on a wall at the Inn Between is a photo of John Cal Robb, the note he wrote before he died and the blue plastic butterfly that signaled to his friends that it was his time to go.

Robb's death was especially hard on the inn. He was a jack-of-all-trades, handy with tools and always offering to give fellow residents a ride to medical appointments. His overweight mutt, Boo Boo, still roams the facility — one of only a handful of establishments in the country dedicated to end-of-life care for homeless people.

"If you are reading this, I have ridden off into the sunset with my fishing pole in hand. Thank you for helping me get to this point," wrote Robb, who, in the photo, wears a contemplative smile, a cigarette hanging from this mouth. "I came in a broken man with no hope and left a stronger, more compassionate and happy man. I owe this all to you."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.