Solutions Utah

Salt Lake City proposes $11.3M for housing & homelessness (2026–27): $2.3M local taxes, $9M HUD. Top recipients: CDC Utah $1.6M; The Road Home $1.14M (3 shelters); First Step House $758K; Odyssey House $513K.

One year after San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s ambitious homelessness plan, SF is seeing results: drug deaths down, thousands in prevention programs, encampments cut from 500+ to 61, & more people moving out of vehicles. A shift toward healthcare-first solutions over housing.

Valley Behavioral Health broke ground on a 68-bed facility at 800 W 107 S to serve as a shelter and treatment facility for the homeless. The intent is to offer long-term stability through housing, case management, treatment services, and peer support. Completion expected in 2027.

28 year-olds Tyler Clancy (former state legislator and police officer) and Nick Coleman (served as the Governor’s director of strategic initiatives) to lead Utah’s 2026 homeless strategy. Their first target: high utilizers (~1000 people) accounting for 45% of all police activity.

Since ground was broken three years ago, the Village has added many amenities including a medical center, pharmacy, and a large conference center with meeting rooms and offices. This year, the Village will open its Community Inn, an Airbnb concept with 25 rentable units.

With construction of the 56th home, The Other Side Village is nearing completion of its Phase One goal of providing 60 tiny homes for the homeless. Since ground was broken three years ago, the Village has added many amenities including a medical center. Read more in the comments.

KUTV News report kutv.com/news/local/st-…

Switchpoint opened a family expansion unit for the homeless in St.George to serve 16 families with private, furnished rooms, 3 meals/day, WiFi & laundry facilities. Read more in the comments.

Operating a dozen facilities throughout the state, Switchpoint’s homeless model emphasizes individual case management, job readiness, & mental health support leading to permanent stability.

Solutions Utah was originally established in 2014 as the Pioneer Park Coalition drawing attention to the vagrancy, crime and homelessness in the area.

Pioneer Park will be transformed into a recreation family-friendly green space thanks to a $20M commitment from Salt Lake City. New features include a covered pavilion, pickle ball courts, groves of new trees, playgrounds, a misting fountain and broad walkways.

• $8.6M for high utilizers • $11.9M for emergency & housing capacity • $8.8M for mental & behavioral health capacity • $14.4M for “Phase II” future homeless system investments • $1M for The Other Side Village • $600,000 for Switchpoint in St George

Here’s a breakdown of the final $45 million approved by the 2026 State Legislature for homelessness and related issues:

Gov. Cox called this a “landmark session when it comes to homelessness and our ability to make a difference.” These investments will advance Utah’s goal of making homelessness “rare, brief and non-recurring.”

Please join us for the 2026 Solutions Utah Conference, May 21 at The Grand America Hotel. Keynote speakers include Dr. Robert Marbut, HUD Senior Advisor, & Gloria Gong, Gov. Performance Lab Executive Director at the Harvard Kennedy School.  Sponsorships and ticket details soon.

Legislative leaders indicate the state will spend $17.5M on homelessness in 2026: $7.3M for “high utilizers” (45% of system costs with criminal implications); $1M for The Other Side Village, and nearly $12M for “emergency shelter and housing.” The 2026 session ends Friday.

Pictured: Molly Wheeler from UCLT and Rep. Steve Eliason, bill sponsor

HB 596 prohibits cities from restricting shelter capacities and establishes a task force to recommend mitigation funding distribution, and flexes homeless shelters for year-round operation and authorizes purchase of a vacant building in West Valley as a future shelter facility.

Changing destructive behaviors can be the hardest thing we do. Dave Durocher, Executive Director of The Other Side Academy, explains why truth has to be at the heart of it. facebook.com/reel/164288437…

Live Ready - Beyond Think & Grow Rich with David R. Ibarra - Guest: Randy Shumway Live Ready - Beyond Think & Grow Rich with David Ibarra podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/liv…

Are critics of Utah’s homeless campus right? Randy Shumway, chair of the Utah Homeless Services Board, explains in this podcast why traditional strategies have failed and why the campus promises better outcomes.