Housing SLC Key Findings
Housing SLC is a plan to guide the City’s housing-related efforts over the next 5 years. This plan is based on what we learned from over 6,500 residents when we asked them about their needs and their vision for Salt Lake City. Six key findings came out of these interactions, which are listed below.
- Rental vacancy rates are low and home sale prices are unaffordable to most residents, putting strain on existing rental housing and causing rents to rise dramatically.
- Despite a housing construction boom, housing prices suggest a shortage of housing supply overall, but especially housing that is deeply affordable (affordable to renters earning 30% of AMI or less), with demand for housing outpacing supply.
- Salt Lake City is majority renter, and nearly half of all renters are cost burdened, spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs. Residents are concerned about renter’s rights and resources.
- According to a survey of city residents, affordable housing and behavioral health services are preferred over additional emergency shelters and homeless resource centers as solutions for homelessness.
- There is a mismatch between the types of housing the market is producing and the needs of the community. Residents perceive that most new housing is “luxury” while many desire more affordability throughout the city. Additionally, residents want more “missing middle” housing and more family-sized housing.
- Wages have not kept pace with cost of living, especially housing-related costs, and residents are feeling increased stress about everyday expenses.
- Despite a housing construction boom, housing prices suggest a shortage of housing supply overall, but especially housing that is deeply affordable (affordable to renters earning 30% of AMI or less), with demand for housing outpacing supply.