Introduction and Summary
 
This report on child homelessness is being produced in a year when lower income households are being left behind.  The area median income for Salt Lake County increased by $10,500 in 2022[i], from $91,700 to $102,200.  In Utah County the area median income increased by $12,300, from $83,700 to $96,000.  This meant that many families in Utah received increased income last year which helped them deal with inflation induced increases to the cost of living. Unfortunately, not everyone received these wage increases.  A single parent with disabilities would have received $10,092 in total SSI benefits last year.  Essentially, low-income families are competing to rent apartments with people who received a raise last year that is bigger than their entire annual income.
 
Given this widening gap between families at the bottom of the income scale and everyone else, it is not surprising that homelessness for families with children in Utah increased by 30 percent in 2022.  65 percent of these families had never experienced homelessness before. Unfortunately, last year’s surge in family homelessness led to some families with children being turned away from shelter because there was not room everyone that needed help.
 
This report contains facts about Utah’s growing crisis of family homelessness and findings from research about the impact of homelessness on the development and wellbeing of children.  Specific recommendations we encourage state and local leaders to pursue include:

• Increasing funding to produce deeply affordable housing for families with children and to provide rental assistance to help families avoid homelessness.
• Ensuring access to childcare for families coming out of homelessness with young children.
• Setting the goal of moving all families with children out of the shelter system within six months and to produce 200 units of supportive housing for the families that currently have been in shelter for six months or more.
• Increasing funding for programs that help domestic violence survivors move into safe, stable, and accessible housing.
• Strengthen and integrate efforts to reduce family homeless provided by schools and homeless service providers.

 
Crossroads Urban Center produced this report with the hopes of generating a larger conversation.  We encourage all concerned Utahns to be part of that conversation.

Read the full report.

During its 45 day formal session the Utah Legislature will review hundreds of bills and pass a $28 billion budget. On the morning of the third day of this year's legislative session, Thursday, January 19, 2023, the Coalition of Religious Communities will be hosting an event called Faith, Hunger & Homelessness Day at the Utah Capitol to draw attention to proposals to reduce hunger and homelessness in Utah.  

​Below are the Agenda for this gathering and a list of policies that will be discussed.

Faith, Hunger & Homelessness Day at the Utah Capitol
January 19, 2023
Utah Capitol Building, Board Room
Agenda

I. Welcome and Introductions, by Bill Tibbitts                                                                            10:00 AM

II. Keynote Speech by Rev. Vinnetta Golphin Wilkerson of Granger                             10:05 AM
Community Christian Church

III. Key facts about child homelessness presented Service Leadership                        10:15 AM
students from Salt Lake Center for Science Education

IV. Discussion about proposals to produce housing to reduce                                            10:25 AM
to reduce homelessness

V. Presentation about results from survey about health and homelessness              10:35 AM
by Applied Statistics students from BYU and their mentor, Dr. Alex Jensen
Read more survey results here

VI. Discussion about proposal to use Medicaid funding to improve case                      10:45 AM
management and access to healthcare services for people who
have experienced homelessness

VII. Reading of Isaiah Chapter 58 by Jacqueline Osherow 10:50 AM
of Congregation Kol Ami

VIII. Presentation on proposal to increase funding to support community                10:55 AM
food pantries by Gina Cornia from Utahns Against Hunger

IX. Presentation on bills to eliminate the state portion of the sales tax                        11:05 AM
on food presented by Representative Rosemary Lesser and
Representative Judy Weeks Rohner

X. Thanks to all participants and instructions on how to share policy                             11:15 AM
ideas with legislators