In 2004, Utah joined a national campaign to end chronic homelessness in 10 years by embracing a strategy known as Housing First. (hyperlink to “Housing First” page) So far, the private sector in Utah has put up enough seed funding to build more than 500 units of permanent supportive housing for once-homeless individuals and families.
Utah’s 10-year plan – designed to end chronic homelessness while cutting overall homelessness nearly in half – estimates that 2,500 supportive housing units are needed statewide. Local committees in 12 Utah regions have developed Housing First plans tailored to meet their unique area needs.
Cost Savings
The chronically homeless make up just 10 percent of Utah’s homeless population, but use more than half of all resources. By helping this long-term homeless population, Housing First frees emergency shelters to care for those Utahan’s thrown on the streets by short-term crises, such as the recent recession.
A 2009 study found that the first five years of Housing First in Utah have saved the state $3.3 million in spending on emergency services for the homeless.
Beehive State emergency shelters saw a 33 percent drop in the number of chronically homeless in their facilities. This allowed the shelters to serve an additional 1,000 temporarily homeless people without adding or paying for additional shelter space.
Mounting evidence from across the country suggests these results just scratch the surface of what is possible. In Portland, Ore., Housing First cut in half the amount of public money spent on homeless. And two-year declines in overall homelessness – in cities from Chicago to Norfolk, Va. – range from 12 to a striking 25 percent!
Learn More:
Utah’s 10 Year Plan: Housing Works
Fact Sheet: What is a Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness National Alliance to End Homelessness
Info@CrusadeForTheHomeless.org | Questions Regarding Donation