On a recent Sunday, my kids asked me if they could spend the afternoon at the downtown Main Library. I often let them go without me but on that day, I wanted to join.

I told them to head out and that I'd meet them after I was done washing dishes. Some time later, I arrived and found them engaged in a serious chess match using the life-size set available on the Library's ground floor.

Seeing that they'd be preoccupied for a while longer, I located a corner to do some writing. And over the course of my time at the library, I interacted with several individuals who, by all appearances, were homeless.

One was getting what seemed to be a much-needed snooze. Another was enjoying a show on his phone. Another was cleaning up for the day in the bathroom. And another, unlike the rest of us, was actually reading a book.

Later that day, I found myself reflecting on how rare of an experience that might be for many people in this state—to spend a meaningful amount of time in proximity to people experiencing homelessness. And because my kids are growing up downtown, they live their lives accustomed to interacting with homeless people.

It's not that my children or I think that homelessness is acceptable in a state as prosperous as Utah. Over the years, our family has donated significant time, money and direct personal efforts to these vulnerable individuals, to help them escape the cycle of poverty and drug abuse.

For a lot of people, however, it's hard to be around homelessness at all. They aren't accustomed to seeing it and it makes them feel uncomfortable.

And this group of Utahns, unfortunately, includes many of our state legislators, people who—not having taken the time to personally understand and experience the issues—fault local Salt Lake City leaders for having the audacity to take in and care for the troubled souls who come to us from all over the Wasatch Front region.

Instead, these Utahns spend their time fearmongering and vilifying the presence of homeless individuals in our downtown. They pass bills threatening to bring in their own police force if we do not remove these people from their view while they are enjoying a hockey game or dinner at a restaurant.

And frankly, that's what you can expect when the people who don't spend meaningful time downtown make laws governing those who do.

But I have hope that the generation of children who are now growing up downtown will take their firsthand experience to the Legislature when the time comes. And they'll pass laws not from a place of discomfort and fear, but rather from a place of empathy, compassion and sincere desire to care for our neighbors.