Hello, District 6!
This month, I would like to talk about homelessness in Salt Lake City and what we are doing to combat this issue. This is crucial for ensuring the well-being of our residents and foster a thriving, compassionate community. In 2024, there were 3,869 people experiencing homelessness. A $66.2 million funding package approved by the Legislature that includes $50.7 million for emergency shelter, $4.4 million for prevention and $11.1 million for behavioral health.
The state will use these funds to invest in a statewide homeless system support, a “step-down” facility for individuals with severe mental illness, opioid-related supportive housing, programs to support youth homelessness, additional staff to support state housing programs, and much more to prevent homelessness. Shelters will also have more beds available during Code Blue nights.
What funding has the Council appropriated for homeless services? We have approved $500,000 that helped kickstart the micro-shelter community , $10,000 for a voucher program to help those living in RVs dispose of black water waste in a safe and environmentally friendly manner, $20 million for new housing-related programs to improve housing affordability in the City, $6 Million in Deeply Affordable Housing Grant Awards and more.
We are committed to the security of our communities. With enhanced enforcement of unsanctioned camping, increased accountability for homelessness systems, and improved housing affordability, we will strike a balance between providing safety and addressing the root causes of homelessness.
To learn more about homelessness and options available, visit tinyurl.com/HomelessnessInSLC.
Tags: City Business 101