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SALT LAKE CITY — The number of people experiencing homelessness in Utah slightly increased over the past year, though the rate remains below the national average.
Even as more affordable housing projects remain in the works, the rising numbers of homeless — and the skyrocketing cost of housing — indicate the need for more immediate intervention from the state, according to the new 2024 Annual Data Report on Homelessness.
The report points to the success of the state's investments into permanent housing projects with supportive services, with the number of people returning to homelessness within two years of exiting the system into a permanent housing situation falling by 5% in the last year. Additionally, the report found that 93% of people housed by long-term housing projects maintained their housing or obtained permanent housing outside the project.
"The data in this new report demonstrates the significant ongoing need for shelter and housing resources with supportive services. Effective strategies must address the root causes of homelessness to promote long-term stability for individuals and families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness," said Tricia Davis, director of the Utah Office of Homeless Services.
Affordable housing crisis
Utah and the private sector have made continued investments into the affordable housing crisis, with the Legislature investing over $350 million to address housing affordability in the past five general sessions. In 2022, the Utah Office of Homeless Services was granted $55 million in funding for 17 affordable housing projects to bring 1,078 affordable units to the market in the coming years.
But building the desperately needed housing takes time, and the need is immediate and growing. The report shows a 9% increase in Utahns (or 794 additional people) who found themselves experiencing homelessness for the first time compared to the previous year. The data measures the number of people experiencing homelessness for the first time in the reporting period, including people entering emergency shelters, transitional housing and all permanent housing projects.
The state also saw increases in the number of people experiencing homelessness multiple times (4%) and people accessing emergency shelter and transitional housing over the course of the year (4%) when compared to 2022.
"Housing prices are significantly impacting people. We're seeing this in senior homelessness — when you have people who are living on a fixed income and their rent is increasing. Fixed incomes and people not being able to afford rent, wages not keeping up living costs. And this is not just Utah — this is throughout the nation," said Davis.
In 2023, 273,052 people — or 8.2% of Utah's population — were living below the poverty line, prompting the state to further focus on preventive measures.
"We're very focused on the prevention piece from a statewide perspective in addressing homelessness, and that's really about robust social safety nets that can help prevent homelessness before it occurs, because it is harder to get people out of homelessness once they have entered," Davis said.
"You're trying to figure out how to pay for gas, you're trying to pay for groceries, and your car just broke down. You've got to make those really hard decisions on what you're going to pay for. I started in case management 20 years ago, and it is frustrating to me to see how we have not changed those social safety nets and supports that people need to not enter into homelessness. As an office, we're coming back around to really focusing on that part of the conversation," she added.
Utah's rate still below national average
Overall, Utah's rate of homelessness remains below the national average, with approximately 11 people experiencing homelessness per 10,000 people, compared to the national rate of 20 per 10,000 people.
"While the national rate has recently increased from 18 to 20 per 10,000, Utah has maintained a stable rate," the report notes.
The annual 2023 Point-in-Time count, conducted in January as a statewide one-night count, revealed a 5% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness compared to the previous year. Of the 3,869 people recorded in the count, approximately 1,008 of them were unsheltered.
The Housing Inventory Count, conducted on the same night as the Point-in-Time count, showed an 86.86% bed utilization rate. Year-round beds were recorded at 76.28%, and winter overflow showed 94.37%.
The report also found an increase in the average length of stay in emergency shelters by 1.21 days or 2%. The percentage of people staying 12 months or more remained at 2%. Additionally, the report found 80% of people engaging with the emergency shelter system spent 90 days or less in shelter, consistent with 2022.
"We're very focused on creating additional emergency shelter capacity. We know that's a need right now, and we're planning on doing that," said Davis. "(I) wish that we were investing more funding into deeply affordable housing because we know that that is what's needed. But if we're going to tackle this unsheltered homelessness issue and make sure that people are receiving the services and access to services they need, we are going to need additional emergency shelter."
The recent legislative session allocated funding for some of those goals, the Utah Office of Homelessness noted in the dashboard. The state's goals and funding provided for them include:
- Emergency shelter ($37,050,800): Expanding the emergency shelter system to meet growing demand, reinforcing existing resources, and increasing shelter options to ensure everyone in need finds support. This funding also allows for effective enforcement of no camping ordinances. The one-time funding will be allocated for low-barrier emergency shelter development, statewide homeless system support, data improvement, and the Department of Alcohol Services Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund round-up initiative.
- Homeless systems support and mitigation ($13,616,700): Providing statewide homeless system support, data improvement and Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation.
- Prevention ($4,426,800): Striving to empower families with resources needed for stable housing and equipping families with necessary tools to access quality care for people facing mental and behavioral health challenges.
- Behavioral health ($11,084,500): Recognizing the critical role mental and behavioral health play in ensuring stability, the state is trying to bolster services and educational opportunities, addressing the persistent workforce shortage in the behavioral health sector. The state hopes to improve access to vital care and create a more resilient community.
