Annual Data Report on Homelessness

/ Iron County Care and Share

The Office of Homeless Services has released the Annual Data Report on Homelessness and it is available for your review online at State of Utah Annual Report on Homelessness.

Key Findings from the 2022 State of Utah Homelessness Data Report

Report Release Date: June 22, 2022

MAKING HOMELESSNESS RARE

  • 7,712 Utahns experienced homelessness for the first time in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021, nearly 1,000 more than in FFY 2020.
  • This 14% increase marks the first time this measure has gone up in the last five years and aligns with national trends. 
  • Following four years of decreasing numbers (a total reduction from FFY 2017 to FFY 2020 of 29%), additional analysis is needed to understand the year-over-year increase; it is likely impacted by increased housing and rental costs and the lack of attainable and affordable housing.

MAKING HOMELESSNESS BRIEF

  • In FFY 2021, the length of stay in the shelter was approximately 68 days, representing a less than one day increase from FFY20. 
  • About 53% of those in shelters stay for a short amount of time – 30 days or less. 
  • Only 6% stay for 9 months or longer. 

MAKING HOMELESSNESS NON-RECURRING

  • The system is highly effective in keeping the most vulnerable in housing. 
  • In FFY 2021, 95% of individuals enrolled in permanent housing projects, other than rapid re-housing, either exited to or retained their permanent housing. 
  • The number of people who return to homelessness after leaving to permanent housing remains low at 29%. 

OTHER KEY DATA

  • The state did see a modest increase in the total number of people accessing homeless services over the course of the whole year, from 10,164 in FY20 to 10,447 in FY21.
  • The number of people experiencing homelessness during the Point in Time Count (a statewide one-night count) remained essentially unchanged from last year (from 3,565 in 2021 to 3,556 in 2022).
  • While the primary need is for more affordable housing in order for people to be able to move out of homelessness, shelter beds are also an important part of the system. The number of shelter beds in the state has increased over the last several years from 2,555 in 2020 to 2,753 in 2022.

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