Rising Homelessness, Erroneous Data: Rethinking Utah's 'Housing First' Policy

An annual reports finds a growing number of homelessness in Utah. That information, coupled with mistakes in earlier reports, casts doubt on the state's record of success in housing vulnerable populations.

2 minute read

January 16, 2019, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


State Capital of Utah

Maciej Bledowski / Shutterstock

"Once lauded as a leader among U.S. cities struggling to relieve homelessness, the number of people sleeping rough in Utah's capital has spiked in the past two years, as funding for its groundbreaking housing programme dried up," reports Gregory Scruggs.

According to the 2015 "Comprehensive Report on Homelessness" [2015] by the Utah Department of Workforce Services, chronic homelessness reduced 91 percent in the state the first half of the decade. That story quickly changed, however. The "2018 report [pdf] said that the number of people sleeping outdoors in the state has nearly doubled since 2016," according to Scuggs.

Utah's earlier track record of success was credited for many years to the "Housing First" policy adopted by the state in 2005. That program, "focused on getting people into housing, regardless of mental illness or substance abuse problems that could be treated after accommodation was secured," explains Scruggs.

Glenn Bailey, who directs Crossroads Urban Center, a Salt Lake City food pantry, is quoted in the article saying Utah's homeless numbers started rising when it stopped funding the program.

But there's also reason to believe that the Housing First program was never as successful as the 2015 homelessness report claimed. Tania Dean reported in December 2018 on an audit from the Office of the Legislative Auditor General: "According to the audit, between state, federal and private donations, $100 million was spent on solving Utah’s homeless issue in 2017. However, auditors don’t know if any of the homeless services provided to decrease the state’s homeless population have been working."

The audit blames "problems with the data and weak management information systems" for the errors in the 2015 report.

Hat tip to YIMBY Wiki for sharing the news about the audit.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019 in Place

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.