The causes of homelessness are complex and interrelated. Structural factors like a lack of affordable housing and poverty contribute to making individuals vulnerable to homelessness. Personal crises like job loss, health issues, divorce, incarceration, and domestic violence often trigger homelessness for those living on the edge of poverty without a support system. Disabling conditions like mental illness or addiction can both cause and prolong homelessness when individuals do not have access to treatment and family support.

1. comprehensive
report on
homelessness
Utah
09

2. Comprehensive Report on Homelessness
State of Utah
2009
All rights reserved © October, 2009
Utah Division of Housing and Community Development
State Community Services Office
324 South State Street, Suite 500
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
801.538.8700
www.housing.utah.gov
Authors
Jayme Day, SCSO
Jonathan Hardy, SCSO
Lloyd Pendleton, SCSO
Layout & Design
Seth Jeppesen, SCSO
Funding
Funding for this project was provided by the State of Utah
Division of Housing and Community Development through the Pamela Atkinson Homeless
Trust Fund
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank all of those who took the time and effort to provide their
expertise and information in the preparation of this report.

5. STATE OF UTAH
COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON HOMELESSNESS
2009
Letter from the Division of Housing
and Community Development 1
Introduction 5
THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN UTAH 8
Causes of Homelessness 9
Number of Homeless Individuals 13
Duration of Homelessness 18
Geography of Homelessness 21
Homelessness and Health 25
Characteristics of Homeless Subpopulations 26
― Domestic Violence Victims 26
― Homeless Families 28
― Homeless Youth 30
― Chronically Homeless Individuals 32
― Homeless Veterans 34
― Disabling Conditions 36
SYSTEM OF HOMELESS SERVICES IN UTAH 40
Coordination of Services 41
Homeless Interventions 44
Impact of Interventions on Homeless System 47
Statewide Initiatives 48
Local Homeless Coordinating Committee Profiles 51
Appendix 65

6. 4
introduction

7. ▪
H
omelessness is a complex social and economic subsidy, such as a voucher, while looking for
problem that has negative consequences not shelter or housing
only for homeless individuals but also for their • Facing eviction within a week, having no
families and their communities as a whole. backup residence identified and lacking the
resources and support networks to obtain
Impact on Individuals and housing
• Being discharged from an institution, having no
Communities
residence identified and lacking the resources
For homeless individuals and families, homelessness and support networks to obtain housing
can expose them to traumatic events or aggravate
their current circumstances making it more difficult A person is considered chronically homeless if he or
to access needed resources and regain the ability she is an unaccompanied individual, 18 or older, with
to support themselves. Children are particularly a disabling condition, and has been homeless for at
vulnerable to adverse effects of homelessness, which least one year, or four times in three years.
can interrupt their schooling, development of positive
peer and mentoring relationships, and expose them Not included in the HUD definition of homelessness
to dangerous or unhealthy environments. Early are individuals who move in with family or friends,
experience with homelessness can have long term also known as “doubling up”, or those who move from
effects for children and young adults, including home to home or are “couch surfing”.
becoming homeless later in life.
Communities also feel the impact of homelessness. Measuring Homelessness
Studies nationwide have found the cost of
Measuring the scope of homelessness is difficult due
homelessness for communities is significant (NAEH,
to the nature of the problem. Homeless individuals
2001). Higher utilization of emergency services such
have no fixed residence and therefore move in and
as emergency rooms, police and ambulance response,
out of homelessness often for short periods of time
and jail stays are more common among homeless
making them difficult to track.
individuals due to their increased exposure to outdoor
elements, violence, and other unsafe or unhealthy
HUD requires that all states with federally-funded
environments. Without the ability to pay for emergency
homeless services participate in “Point-in-Time” (PIT)
services or other services, these costs are covered by
counts on the last week in January in odd years. The
the taxpayer.
PIT count is a physical count of all homeless persons
living in emergency shelters, transitional housing,
Defining Homelessness and on the streets on a single night. Utah has chosen
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban to conduct its count every year. This enables policy
Development (HUD) considers an individual to makers and advocates to determine the size and
be homeless if he or she lacks a fixed, regular, and characteristics of the homeless population; however
adequate nighttime residence and has a primary it does not capture those who experience only brief
nighttime residence that includes – episodes of homelessness nor does it account for
changes throughout the year due to economic and
• Sleeping in places not meant for human social forces.
habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, or
abandoned and condemned buildings In addition to the point-in-time count, the Utah
• Sleeping in an emergency shelter Homeless Management Information System (UHMIS)
• Spending a short time (30 consecutive days is another source of information on homelessness in
or less) in a hospital or other institution, but Utah. The function of UHMIS is to collect information
ordinarily sleeping in the types of places from participating homeless agencies on their
mentioned above clients and the services they provide. With further
• Living in transitional/supportive housing, but implementation, UHMIS will be able to disseminate
having come from the streets or emergency accurate assessments of trends and the effectiveness
shelters of interventions for addressing homelessness in Utah
• Staying temporarily in a hotel on some type of such as the information provided in this report.
5

8. ▪
Report on Homelessness in Utah Approach to Homelessness in Utah
This report outlines the trends in homelessness in The vision of the state of Utah is that everyone has
Utah over the last few years as well as the solutions access to safe, decent, affordable housing with the
implemented to significantly reduce the number of needed resources and support for self-sufficiency and
people that experience homelessness. Trends will well-being.
focus on the magnitude, geography, and duration of
homelessness in Utah. This report will also address The State of Utah’s goals are to end chronic
homelessness as it pertains to the many groups homelessness, create a system of homeless services
that experience homelessness most often. These that most effectively aids those experiencing
groups include domestic violence victims, homeless homelessness, and overall to reduce the amount of
families, military veterans, and those with a disabling homelessness in Utah by 2014.
condition. Guiding Utah is a “Ten-year action plan” developed by
Utah’s Homeless Coordinating Committee. The major
Facts about Homelessness in Utah goals of this plan are to:
• In 2009, 0.6% of Utah’s population is homeless
• End chronic homelessness by moving people
or 15,525 individuals, according to HUD’s
off the streets and into permanent housing
definition of homelessness.
with supportive services
• Homeless individuals are most often
• Expand access to affordable housing and
temporarily homeless and 36% stay in shelters
reduce overall homelessness by 40 percent
for less than 7 days while 67% are homeless for
less than 6 weeks. • Prevent homelessness by easing people’s
transition from domestic violence shelters,
• A smaller portion, or 9% of the homeless
jails, prisons, mental health institutions and
population, is chronically homeless or remain
foster care
homeless for long periods of time. The vast
majority are male, and 19% are veterans. All • Create a statewide database to chart outcomes
struggle with a disabling condition such as a and drive change
physical disability, mental illness, or addiction.
Many have multiple conditions.
State of Utah’s Initiatives
• The fastest growing segment of the homeless
In order to prevent homelessness from occurring in the
population are homeless persons in families,
first place, targeted interventions including housing
which in 2009 makes up 46%. They are mostly
assistance for poor families and creating discharge
female headed single parent families with
plans that ensure housing for individuals leaving
young children and are more often racial and
institutions are being implemented.
ethnic minorities.
• Most homeless people are from Utah, For those who have been homeless for extended
including 74% of homeless individuals and periods and have a disabling condition, the State of
88% of homeless families. Utah has adopted the Housing First approach which
provides permanent supportive housing to chronically
• Most homeless individuals live in urban areas, homeless individuals so they can focus on stabilizing
and 89% live along the Wasatch Front mostly their disabling condition in a safe and supportive
in Salt Lake and Weber Counties; however environment.
Carbon and Grand Counties have the highest
concentration of homeless individuals as a
percent of the population.
Source: NAEH 2001 “The Cost of Homelessness”
6

9. ▪
Myths and Facts
Homeless people suffer from the hardship of their condition, but also
face alienation and discrimination fueled by stereotypes. Here are
some of myths and realities of homelessness.
MYTH — People who are homeless stay homeless for a long time.
FACT — The vast majority of homeless Utahns—67 percent—are
temporarily homeless. They stay in shelters for brief periods, for days
or weeks, and often do not return.
MYTH — Most are single men.
FACT — Persons in families are the fastest growing, comprising 46
percent of Utah’s homeless population.
MYTH — The homeless population is transient, migrating to cities with
the best services.
FACT — 74 percent of Utah’s homeless population lived in Utah when
they became homeless.
MYTH — They are to blame for their situation.
FACT — Many are victims of circumstance: illness and trauma from
violence or abuse. About 28 percent are children.
Source: 2008 Utah Homeless Count
Client interviews conducted by the Utah Division of Housing & Community
Development and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.
7

10. 8
the state of
homelessness
in Utah

11. CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS
T
he causes of homelessness are very complex and a home. These barriers are especially difficult for
include many factors that are both structural individuals who are already homeless.
(e.g. housing and job markets) and individually
based. Structural forces are often the underlying Poverty
or contributing factors that make people more
vulnerable for becoming homeless in the event of Lack of a stable income makes finding and maintaining
a personal crisis. Although it would be difficult to housing difficult for those living below or near the
predict homelessness based on these factors alone, federal poverty level, especially if other factors such as
the majority of homelessness would not occur in their a disability or being responsible for children increase
absence. Immediate causes of homelessness most the financial demands for individuals and families.
often relate to personal crises that include the loss of a Federal poverty guidelines are determined annually
job or income, sudden or chronic illness, divorce, death based on inflation rates and the proportion of a
in the family, incarceration or an abusive relationship. person’s income that is spent on food. In 2009, a family
Many of these situations can make housing precarious of four making less than $22,050 a year is considered
for individuals who are already vulnerable due to to be living in poverty.
poverty, lack of affordable housing and other economic
and social factors. Any financial, health, or personal crisis for those in
poverty can make housing precarious. Individuals
who become homeless are often the poorest of the
Housing poor as they most likely have exhausted all financial
The primary cause of homelessness is housing related and social resources to maintain their housing. Once
crises. These include evictions, a lack of affordable homeless, individuals are also more susceptible to
housing, or having barriers to housing. Evictions can additional crises, thus creating a cycle of poverty and
be the result of owing rental or mortgage payments or homelessness that can be difficult for individuals to
due to noncompliance with a housing contract such escape.
as criminal behavior or having unauthorized tenants.
For whatever reason, loss of a job, divorce, unexpected Unemployment
bills due to health or house or auto related repairs can
create a situation where individuals are not able to Unemployment contributes to poverty and therefore
make payments for a time, leading to eviction. is an important factor for homelessness. When job
markets decline, there are fewer full time jobs available
There is often a lack of affordable housing in that offer a living wage and benefits. Barriers to
communities either due to having too few rental employment include lack of education, training, skills,
properties or having rental and owner properties that social networks, experience, and often a lack of available
are more expensive than individuals or families can jobs in an area that forces many to move and therefore
afford based on their income. Moving costs, deposit or separates them from their social networks of support.
down payment and first months rent or mortgage also For individuals who are already homeless, finding a
make housing less accessible for people with limited job is difficult if they do not have access to resources
funds. such as a computer to generate a resume or search
for jobs, appropriate attire for a job interview or the
There are many barriers individuals face in obtaining transportation to get to a job let alone a job interview.
housing in the first place, some of which include In addition, an address and other contact information
having a criminal record, poor credit history, being are also required for most job applications.
unemployed, not having money for a deposit,
lacking transportation, needing references for a loan Lack of Health Care Insurance
application or landlord, lacking identification, lacking Lack of health insurance leaves individuals more
access to information about available properties or vulnerable to incur debt and therefore less able
lacking the ability to navigate the process of finding to pay rent or mortgage if an emergency medical
9

12. ▪
situation occurs or chronic illness exists and is costly of violence within abusive relationships due to the
to manage. Often people without health insurance increased levels of stress.
forgo preventative medical checkups or keeping
up with treatments necessary to keep their medical Divorce
condition under control. This may cause a more serious
condition or disability to occur making it more difficult For many people, two or more sources of income are
to maintain employment and therefore income and necessary to maintain housing. Becoming a single
housing. For homeless individuals, health problems are person or parent household due to divorce means
created or exasperated by increased exposure to the housing payments must be made on one’s own or
outdoors and crowding in shelters. In addition, poor divorcees may have to move to accommodate their
health conditions make escaping homelessness much loss of income. Divorce can put people with limited
more difficult for individuals seeking employment and resources at increased risk for homelessness, especially
housing. single women with children.
Decline in Public Assistance Incarceration
Public Assistance has declined over the last 10 years Individuals leaving prisons or jails have barriers to
making it more difficult for individuals living near housing due to their criminal record, which also
or below the poverty level to avoid homelessness. narrows their employment opportunities. Recidivism
Homelessness is often an impermanent state where rates for homeless individuals are high and often are
public assistance can make the difference between due to charges of loitering, trespassing, and public
whether individuals or families become homeless or intoxication.
not. In addition, public assistance can help homeless
individuals regain housing. Family and Social Ties
People turn to family and friends most often for
Important social services for those with limited support during a financial, health, or personal crisis.
resources include housing subsidies, food stamps, Any type of crisis such as a loss of a job, health
unemployment benefits, health insurance, etc. emergency, divorce, etc. can also put a strain on those
family members or friends. This support network may
Disabling Conditions not be able to ameliorate the crisis for long depending
Homelessness is often the consequence of mental on their circumstances leaving individuals vulnerable
illness, physical disability, or substance abuse for to homelessness without aid from institutional
those who do not have access to family or institutional supports. For individuals, childhood exposures to
supports. Often these conditions are co-occurring poverty or victimization can not only affect their future
as with individuals who use drugs or alcohol to self- circumstances but those of their family making their
medicate other illnesses or disabling conditions. safety net less reliable in times of need.
Homelessness may also create or exacerbate these
conditions. Disabling conditions often occur for
military veterans making this population particularly Causes of Homelessness
vulnerable to homelessness.
in Utah
Domestic Violence The 2009 Annual Report on Poverty in Utah reported a
Individuals and families fleeing sexual, emotional, shortage of 30,988 affordable housing units in Utah in
or physical abuse are considered homeless by the 2009. Many Utahns are renters (28%) and Fair Market
Department of Housing and Urban Development when Rent (FMR) is $736 for a two-bedroom apartment,
seeking refuge at a shelter. Victims’ living situations requiring a household income well above the poverty
and employment are precarious due to violence and level. In Utah, 9.8% of people live below the poverty
trying to avoid an abusive partner. Homelessness is line, or 256,283 individuals, which is less than the US
often considered both an outcome and contributing at 12.5%. However, several areas in Utah have poverty
factor of domestic violence. Poverty, unemployment rates higher than the US (US Census Bureau, 2007).
and situational crises may cause increasing rates
10

13. ▪
The unemployment rate in Utah was 5.3% in March of Trends in Utah
2009 compared to the US at 8.5%. All counties in Utah
Figure 1 displays the self-reported causes of
were lower than the US rate during this period. While
homelessness for homeless individuals and families in
Utah is faring better than the US in terms of jobs, many
Utah in 2008 and early 2009. It is important to note
individuals remain without health insurance, about
that these are self-reported factors for what individuals
10.7% in 2008 and 8% for children, many of whom live
and families felt were the largest contributor to their
at or near the poverty level. The combination of a lack
situation. These are not necessarily the only factor.
of affordable housing, poverty, unemployment, and a
For instance someone may report a financial crisis as
lack of health insurance makes people more vulnerable
the cause of their homelessness but that may have
to becoming homeless in the event of a crisis.
resulted from the loss of a job.
Figure 1 — Self-Reported Causes of Homelessness in Utah:
Jan 2008 — May 2009
Individuals
2008 10 12 17 6 6 4 13 25 2 5
2009 6 18 19 5 4 2 10 25 2 8
2008 7 6 7 5 11 19 7 22 1 15
Families
2009 5 5 10 4 14 13 6 31 1 11
percentage
Source: UHMIS 2008-2009
Note: UHMIS participating agencies only
Financial Problems
Employment Problems
Health Problems
Legal/Civic Problems
Housing Problems
Victimization/Divorce
New to the Area
Situational Crisis
Way of Life
Other
11

14. ▪
Unaccompanied Individuals who are homeless report 55% of families are reportedly headed by females and
more problems with employment and their health as 80% of individuals are male.
contributing factors compared with families, while
families report victimization/divorce and housing Figure 2 displays the self-reported living situation
problems more frequently than individuals. Individuals prior to becoming homeless for homeless individuals
reported higher percentage of employment and and families in Utah in 2008 and early 2009. Families
health problems in early 2009 than in 2008 but a lower were most often living with relatives or friends or
percent of financial problems and being new to the area considered to be living in a “doubled up” situation,
relative to other contributing factors of homelessness. while individuals were most often living on the
Families year over year differences show a decline in streets or places not meant for habitation. For the
victimization and divorce, reporting more situational most part these trends have remained constant from
crises and housing problems for what caused their 2008 through early 2009, however the proportion of
state of homelessness, however these data do not families previously owning increased relative to those
include information from domestic violence shelters who were renting in 2009.
due to its sensitive nature. In terms of characteristics,
Figure 2 — Self-Reported Previous Living Situation for
Homeless Individuals in Utah: Jan 2008 — May 2009
Individuals
2008 8 2 6 6 10 10 7 37 2 9 3
2009 7 2 6 5 11 11 9 37 1 8 3
2008 12 5 31 12 11 4 19 7
Families
2009 15 8 1 28 13 10 8 13 5
percentage
Source: UHMIS 2008-2009
Note: UHMIS participating agencies only
Owned Condo or House
Foster Care or Group Home
Hospital
Hotel or Motel — Not Paid by Voucher
Jail, Prison or Juenile Detention
Living with Family or Relatives
Living with Friends
Others
Place Not for Habitation (streets, etc.)
Psychiatric Facility
Sources:
Rented Room, Apartment or House NCH June 2008 Fact Sheet #1 “Why are People Homeless?”
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility The 2009 Annual Report on Poverty in Utah
DWS March 2009 “Utah’s Monthly Employment Situation Report”
12

15. NUMBER OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS
C
ounting the number of homeless individuals In order to project the number of people who will
across the state is a challenging task. experience homelessness throughout the year, or an
Homelessness is often a temporary situation annualized count, these rates of turnover are applied
and homeless individuals who are not in shelters to the Point-In-Time count.
or temporary housing are difficult to locate. This
creates the potential to underestimate the size of the Number of Homeless Persons in Utah
homeless population for any given period of time.
Basic estimates combined with an annual physical On January 28th, 2009 it was estimated that 3,525
count have been used to determine the size of Utah’s people were homeless. From this it is projected that
homeless population. The number of homeless roughly 15,525 people will experience homelessness
people varies based on how homelessness is defined. in Utah throughout 2009. Homelessness has increased
These estimates determine many service and funding by 8% since 2008; however, chronic homelessness
decisions in order to most appropriately address has declined by 5%. These changes are larger in
homelessness. 2009 compared to a 2005-2007 baseline where
chronic homelessness has declined by 19% and total
Methodology – Determining the homelessness has increased by 14%.
Number of Homeless People Figure 3 is a map of Utah that displays the number
of homeless persons and the percent of each county’s
Point-In-Time population estimated to be homeless in 2009. The
The federal government requires that each state percent of the population in Utah who is homeless is
perform what is called a “Point-In-Time” (PIT) count estimated to be 0.6% for 2009.
where all homeless persons are counted on a single
night during the last week of January on odd years.
Utah performs this count every year. This includes both
sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons. The PIT
count is based on the HUD definition of homelessness
and therefore does not count multiple families or
households who are doubling up in a single residence
due to lack of a permanent residence.
Annualization
The Point-in-Time is a prevalence measure — or a
snapshot — of the number of people who experience
homelessness on a given night. People are often
homeless only for a short period of time, making
this estimate a drastic undercount of the number of
people who experience homelessness throughout the
year. Analysis has been conducted to determine the
incidence rate or amount of turnover that occurs within
the homeless population. It has been determined that
those persons experiencing short term homelessness
is about five times the number that is seen on a
single night. Those who are chronically homeless or
are unsheltered are considered to have longer bouts
of homelessness, and it has been determined that
this population is about two times greater than that
observed on a single night.
13

16. ▪
Figure 3 — Estimated Number of Homeless Individuals in Utah: 2009
% of County Population
Cache 0%
702
Box Elder Rich 0.01% − 0.20%
65 0 0.21% − 0.60% State Avg:
0.6% overall
Weber 0.61% − 0.90%
2,060
Morgan 0.91% − 2.03%
Davis 0
645 Daggett
Summit 0
114
Salt Lake
Tooele 9,766
86
Wasatch
10 Duchesne
Utah 140 Uintah
323 230
Juab
0 Carbon
396
Sanpete
0
Millard
0 Emery Grand
14 101
Sevier
108
Beaver
Piute Wayne
2
0 0
Iron
95 Gar eld
0
San Juan
109
Washington Kane
559 0
14

17. ▪
Table 1
Top Five
% of Population Locations with the Highest # of
Counties
that is Homeless Homeless Persons
2009
1 Carbon Salt Lake
2 Grand Weber
3 Salt Lake Cache
4 Weber Davis
5 Duchesne Washington
Source: Utah PIT 2009
Number of Children who are Number of Homeless Persons in Utah
Homeless in Utah Compared with the US
The US Department of Education includes “doubling Figure 4 is a US Map of the PIT count for all states
up”, or living with another family due to lack in the United States in 2008 including the rate
of permanent residence, in their definition of of homelessness per 10,000 persons. The rate of
homelessness for school children.Table 2 displays the homelessness in Utah is 0.13%, or 13 per 10,000 which
number of children who are homeless. This includes is the number of homeless on a single night compared
those families who are doubled up and therefore yields to the state’s population. The overall rate for the US is
a higher number than what is included in the Point-In- 0.22%.
Time count which is based on the HUD definition of
homelessness.
Table 2 — Number of Homeless School Children in Utah:
2006—2009
2006 2007 2008 2009
Doubled up with another family 7,792 7,587 6,424 8,528
Hotel or motel 342 408 206 303
Emergency or transitional shelter 628 713 384 446
Car, park, or campground 163 108 91 100
Inadequate facilities 729 705 564 628
Unaccompanied minor 433 474 347 383
Statewide total 10,087 9,995 8,016 10,388
Source: Utah Department of Education Point-in-Time Counts
15

18. ▪
Figure 4 — Number of Homeless Individuals on a Single Night in the USA: 2008
WA
0.34%
(21,954) 0.15% − NH ME
(2,019)
MT 0.20%
ND 0.15% − VT (2,632)
0.15% 0.10% (954)
(1,417) (615) MN
OR 0.15%
0.54% (7,644)
(20,653)
ID WI
0.10% NY 0.22% − MA
SD 0.10% (14,506)
(1,464) 0.07% (5,449) 0.31%
WY (579) (61,125)
0.14% MI
(751) 0.28%
(28,248) 0.11% − RI
IA PA (1,196)
NE 0.11% 0.12% 0.13% − CT
NV 0.22% (3,346) (15,378) (4,627)
OH
0.48% (3,985) 0.11%
(12,610) UT IL IN
0.12% (12,912)
0.13% 0.11% 0.16% − NJ
(3,434) CO (14,724) (7,395) WV (13,832)
CA 0.11% VA
0.43% 0.30% (2,016) 0.11% − DE
(157,277) (14,747) KS MO 0.11% (933)
0.06% 0.13% KY (8,469)
(1,738) 0.19% 0.16% − MD
(7,687) (9,219)
(8,137)
NC 1.02% − DC
(6,044)
TN 0.13%
0.16% (12,411)
AZ OK (9,705)
0.19% 0.11% AR SC
(12,488) NM (3,846) 0.11% 0.13%
0.15% (3,255) (5,660)
(3,015)
AL
MS 0.12% GA
0.07% (5,387) 0.20%
(1,961) (19,095)
TX
HI 0.17% LA
0.47% (40,190) 0.12%
(6,061)
(5,481)
Source: NAEH.org; HUD AHAR 2009
FL
AK % of State’s Population that 0.27%
0.24% is Homeless per 10,000 (50,158)
(1,646)
0.00% − 0.11%
0.12% − 0.14%
0.15% − 0.21%
USA − 0.22%
0.22% − 0.46% Total # of homeless individuals
0.47% − 1.02% in USA − 664,414
16

19. ▪
Trends those without shelter; however, the goal is to
accommodate all individuals who need shelter or
Figures 5 and 6 display how the number of homeless
housing.
have changed in Utah from 2006 to 2009 and
includes trends for family and chronically homeless
Overall homelessness has increased since 2007
subpopulations as well as the percent of the population
in addition to the number of families who are
in Utah. The percent of the homeless population
homeless across the state. However, chronic
that is sheltered has increased each year starting
homelessness has consistently declined each year
from 86.7% in 2006 to 92.8% in 2009 and by far the
since 2006.
smallest population of homelessness has remained
Figure 5 — Number of Homeless Individuals on a
Single Night in Utah: 2006—2009
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
Total # of Homeless Individuals
# of Chronically Homeless Individuals
0
2006 2007 2008 2009
# of Homeless Families with Children
Source: Utah Point-in-Time Counts
# of Sheltered Homeless Individuals
# of Unsheltered Homeless Individuals
Figure 6 — Estimated Annual Number of Homeless Persons in Utah:
2006—2009
18000 0.60%
16000
0.50%
14000
12000 0.40%
10000
0.30%
8000
6000 0.20%
4000
0.10%
2000
0 0.00%
2006 2007 2008 2009
# of Homeless Persons Source: Extrapolation of Utah
Point-in-Time Counts
# of Chronically
Homeless Persons
% of State Population
17

20. DURATION OF HOMELESSNESS
Measuring Duration of Homelessness FY09 compared to 37 the previous Fiscal Year or an
T
increase of 2.1% (please see Table 3). This increase is
he length of time someone is homeless varies by
due to a 6% increase in the length of stay in domestic
an individual’s or family’s situation. The majority of
violence shelters.
individuals are homeless for less than 6 months and
most often for less than 7 days. The length of time
individuals are homeless is often measured by the Overall Trends
number of nights they remain in emergency shelters or Most individuals are homeless for less than 7 days
transitional housing. These are termed “Shelter Nights” and this rate has increased in FY09 (see Figure 7). 93%
or “Housing Nights” and include the total number of of individuals were homeless for less than 6 months.
nights per person in shelters or housing programs so
that if 50 people stayed in a shelter for 2 nights that
would equate to 100 shelter nights.
Figure 7 — Length of Stay in Emergency
It is often not possible to measure the length of time Shelters in Utah: July 2007 — June 2009
unsheltered individuals spend on the streets beyond 2500
self-reported durations. A person or family may
2000
become homeless more than once and these durations # of Clients
of homelessness are called “episodes”. A homeless FY08
1500
FY09
individual may live in a variety of settings within the
1000
same episode, such as in an emergency shelter, on the
streets, in transitional housing, etc. making it difficult to 500
track an individual’s total duration of homelessness.
0
7 Days or Less 1 Week to 6 6 Weeks to 6 6 Months or
Length of Stay in Emergency Shelters Weeks Months More
Source: UHMIS FY08-FY09
in Utah Note: HMIS participating shelters only
The average length of stay for homeless individuals
in emergency shelters in Utah is 43 days for FY09
compared to the previous year’s average of 46 days. While this does not take into account the number of
The number of persons in families in homeless shelters times a person may be homeless it demonstrates that
increased by 4.6% in 2009 but their average length of homelessness is often short term, but even though it
stay in emergency shelters has declined by 24%. The may last for the short period, the experience can often
overall average length of stay in emergency shelters have long term adverse effects for individuals and
for homeless individuals has decreased by 6.5% for families.
FY09.
When combining homeless and domestic violence
shelters the average length of stay becomes 38 for
Table 3 — Number of Clients and Emergency Shelter Nights, Utah:
July 2007 — June 2009
Total # of # of Emergency Average # of Shelter
Period
Clients Shelter Nights Nights per Client
FY08 9198 340,724 37.0
FY09 9485 358,756 37.8
% Change 3.1% 5.3% 2.1%
Sources: UHMIS, DCFS FY08-FY09
18

21. ▪
Figure 8 — Length of Stay in Emergency Shelters for Homeless
Individuals and Families, Utah: 2008
Individuals 30% 32% 32% 7%
Families 18% 27% 43% 13%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Source: UHMIS 2008
Note: HMIS participating shelters only 7 Days or Less
1 Week to 6 Weeks
6 Weeks to 6 Months
6 Months or More
Unaccompanied individuals are often homeless
Length of Stay in Transitional
for shorter periods than individuals in families (see
Figure 8). It often requires more time and resources Housing and Permanent Supportive
to accommodate the needs of a family rather than Housing in Utah
unaccompanied individuals. Transitional housing stays have increased for families
by 13% and decreased for individuals by 18% in
The following two figures (9,10) graph the number FY09 compared to the previous year. Length of stay
of emergency shelter nights on a monthly basis in in permanent supportive housing has increased by
terms of the total number of shelter nights and the 4% in FY09 compared to the previous year. A longer
average number of shelter nights per client per month length of stay is considered a positive outcome as long
for Fiscal Years 2008 – 2009. The average length of as it is resulting in stabilization or efforts towards self-
stay has declined overall since July 2007 for families sufficiency for individuals.
and remained relatively constant for unaccompanied
individuals.
19

22. ▪
Figure 9 — Average Length of Stay in Shelters per Month
State of Utah: July 2007 — June 2009
70
Average # of Nights Per Individual or Family
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
r
nu r
em r
em r
r
r
r
em r
J a be
J a be
ch
ch
e
ec be
br y
br y
O be
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ov e
ov e
ly e
ne
ay
ay
M y
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te t
te t
il
il
A 7
A 8
us
s
Fe uar
Fe ar
D mb
pr
pr
r
r
N tob
N tob
J u un
0
0
Se g u
ua
ua
ar
ar
m
m
20
20
M
M
Ju
ug
A
A
J
n
e
u
c
c
ly
ec
p
p
Ju
Se
D
Source: Utah Homeless Management Information System FY08 - FY09 Families
Note: HMIS participating shelters only Individuals
Total
Figure 10 — Total Number of Shelter Nights per Month
State of Utah: July 2007 — June 2009
35,000
Families
Individuals
30,000
Total
Total # of Shelter Nights
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
r
r
er
er
ct r
ct r
r
r
J a be
J a be
ch
ch
br y
br y
O be
O be
e
ov e
ne
J u une
ay
ay
M y
M y
te st
p ust
il
il
A 8
Fe uar
Fe uar
D mb
D mb
pr
pr
r
r
N ob
N ob
0
Se ug u
ua
ua
em
em
ar
ar
m
m
20
M
M
Ju
ug
A
A
J
n
n
e
e
te
ly
ec
ec
A
ov
p
Se
Source: Utah Homeless Management Information System FY08 - FY09
Note: HMIS participating shelters only
20

23. GEOGRAPHY OF HOMELESSNESS
C
60.52%
15.04%
11.00%
haracteristics of areas can play a role in
3.99%
2.82%
Location of Services†
homelessness not only in terms of local
Table 5 — Top Five Counties or Regions in Utah Where Homeless Individuals and
structural forces that cause homelessness but
they also determine the types of situations in which
Mountainlands
2008
Davis County
homeless persons end up living and the services
Five County
Salt Lake
Morgan
Weber/
County
available to those individuals.
Geographic Origin of Homeless
Individuals in Utah
Origin of Sheltered
Salt Lake 61.07%
15.92%
13.24%
Most homeless individuals in Utah come from this
2.82%
2.62%
state. In 2008, 74% of homeless individuals reported
Individuals
Homeless
being from Utah.
2008
Morgan
Services are Located: 2008, 2009
Weber/
County
County
County
County
Davis
Utah
Five
Table 4 — Self-Reported Location of Origin
for Homeless Individuals in Utah: 2008
Rank State
2.03%
1.05%
0.95%
0.91%
0.83%
as a % of County
1 Utah 74%
Homelessness
Population
2 Nevada 5%
2009
3 California 4%
Duchesne
Salt Lake
4 Arizona 3%
Carbon
Weber
Grand
5 Florida 1.5%
Source: UHMIS 2008
62.90%
13.27%
4.52%
4.15%
3.60%
The origin of homeless individuals within Utah is
Annualized
PIT Count
depicted in Figure 11, which is a map of Utah zip
2009
Washington
codes and is based on 1,904 self-reports from HMIS
Salt Lake
Cache
Weber
in 2009. A higher proportion of homeless individuals Davis
across the state report being from the areas around
Vernal, Price, Helper, Cedar City, St. George, Brigham
City, and along the Wasatch Front. Development of
services around these areas, including measures to
37.40%
19.40%
10.80%
Utah Population 2008
8.30%
5.00%
prevent homelessness, is informed by where homeless
individuals originate. Figure 11 does not include
information for domestic violence victims which may
Washington
distribute differently across the state.
Salt Lake
Weber
Davis
Utah
Location of Homeless Individuals in
Utah
Table 5 displays the top five areas where homelessness
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
occurs across the state in addition to where the most
services are located. By far, most homelessness and
homeless services exist in Salt Lake County, primarily †Note: Services include emergency shelter, transitional
housing, case management, and other supportive ser-
in Salt Lake City. vices (does not include DV services)
Sources: UHMIS 2008, Utah PIT 2009, US Census Bureau 2008
21

24. ▪
Figure 11 — % of Homeless Population in Utah Reporting Zip
Code as Previous Address
1
2
3
4
5
6
Source: UHMIS 2008
22