Utah has a grand vision for homeless campus, but plan’s ambiguity sparks concern

Utah’s homeless coordinator says a proposed 1,300-bed public homeless services campus in northwest Salt Lake City is the lowest-cost solution to a complex and growing problem.

However, its proposed location and other elements of the project have sparked concerns from residents, various groups and even city leaders, as the state seeks to move the project forward.

The Utah Office of Homeless Services announced plans in September to create a “first-of-its-kind” national homeless services campus, following a contract agreement to acquire a nearly 16-acre parcel in the Northpoint area of ​​Salt Lake City. It could open as soon as 2027, providing a place to stay, as well as employment and housing opportunities and drug treatment and criminal justice assistance, if needed.

The goal is to transform the land, located at 2520 N. 2200 West, into a facility that provides stability for people experiencing homelessness so they can achieve “long-term self-sufficiency,” said Wayne Niederhauser, the state’s homeless coordinator, as he briefed Salt Lake City Council members on the plan Tuesday.

“It won’t be absolutely comprehensive, but it will cover many areas of need,” he said. “We seek to take a human approach to this, matching the needs of individuals to the treatments and opportunities that will be offered on campus.”

His office has submitted a request for state funding for the project in the upcoming fiscal year 2027 and will hear whether it is part of Gov. Spencer Cox’s proposed budget in December. It’s also up to the Utah Legislature to approve the final budget, which will ultimately dictate the project’s timeline.

Niederhauser says the proposed site is cheaper than not helping people experiencing homelessness or not providing recovery resources. He estimates it would cost about $65 per night per person to operate, a little more than the $55 cost of current shelters, but half the nightly cost of jails or prisons, and significantly less expensive than a night in an emergency room.

A mess?

However, residents and various groups say the project seems rushed and incomplete. It would be located in the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake, like the new Utah State Prison site, which has had mosquito problems since its opening. Paving wetlands for new development could also lead to more stormwater runoff problems for the lake.

That’s why more than 1,400 people signed a letter opposing the new complex on its site, while also staging an off-plot hours protest before Niederhauser’s meeting with Salt Lake City. A campaign was also launched, entitled “Stop the waste of mega-shelters in wetlands”.

The group also says the project “will impose a significant financial burden on taxpayers.”

“This plan is not compassionate and does not look like a plan,” Northpoint resident Allison Musser told KSL.

While supportive in some areas, Salt Lake City Council members questioned Niederhauser at times, while speaking out on many of the project’s question marks during a meeting that lasted more than an hour. Among the main concerns is that the project remains “ambiguous” and it is unclear whether it is a short- or long-term housing solution, said Salt Lake City Councilwoman Victoria Petro, whose district includes Northpoint.

She also discussed the aftermath of Operation Rio Grande, a state-led initiative to combat homelessness in 2017, which she said failed and contributed to some of the security concerns that led to the temporary closure of the Jordan River earlier this year.

“If this is not well regulated, my neighbors are terrified of what awaits them,” she said.

Planning continues

The Utah Office of Homeless Services did its “due diligence” in ordering soil and transportation reports, Niederhauser said. He adds that the agency continues to meet with groups to discuss the many questions and concerns.

One of those meetings was with the Salt Lake City Mosquito Control District about concerns there. Niederhauser also expects the state to find a nonprofit organization to manage the campus, while using a shuttle system to facilitate transportation between the site and other locations in the city.

But financing is another concern shared by all. While the office has submitted a funding request for the project to the state, Niederhauser said he knows state and local budgets are currently “tight,” which could complicate matters.

“I have been on both sides and understand the range of needs that Parliament must consider,” he said. “We want to get as many people (off the streets) out of the services that they need…and get as many of those opportunities as possible through the resources that will be available.”

He said there was also interest within the philanthropic community, but nothing substantial in developing the project.

Contribute : Shelby Lofton