Press Release
August 13, 2025

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 13, 2025)) — The Utah Office of Homeless Services has released the Annual Report Dashboard on Homelessness, Utah’s comprehensive yearly analysis of the state's homeless system and the individuals experiencing homelessness. This data provides statewide performance measure results. Data from all homeless service providers and housing projects that participate in the Utah Homeless Management Information System (UHMIS) are included in Utah’s Office of Homeless Services reporting.

“This year’s data tells a complex story. While most people still resolve their homelessness quickly with shelter and support, we’re seeing growing needs, especially among seniors, veterans, and first-time shelter residents,” said Wayne Niederhauser, State Homeless Coordinator.

The Utah Homelessness Services Board aims to achieve a comprehensive approach to reducing homelessness, with the ultimate goal of making homelessness in Utah rare, brief, and non-recurring. The Utah Office of Homeless Services supports this vision by providing statewide coordination, data reporting, and program administration.

Making Homelessness Rare:
Prevention is the first and most effective step in making homelessness rare in Utah. Addressing poverty through sustainable economic opportunities, affordable housing, and strong social safety nets can reduce the risk of homelessness before it begins. Utah’s booming economy and fast-growing population have outpaced the availability of affordable housing and overwhelmed behavioral health services, widening the gap between need and access across the state.

The annual 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count showed 4,584 Utahns experiencing homelessness on a single night, a 18% increase from the previous year. The number of children, people over age 64, and veterans experiencing homelessness increased. Utah’s homelessness rate now stands at 13 per 10,000 people, up from 11 per 10,000, but still well below the 2024 national rate of 23 per 10,000.

Making Homelessness Brief:
Ensuring that homelessness is brief requires robust resources and comprehensive wrap-around services. Access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, job training, and affordable housing helps individuals stabilize and transition quickly to permanent housing.

The average length of stay in emergency shelter in 2024 increased by 10 days (17%) compared to 2023, underscoring the growing need for quicker housing placements and more robust exit options, including access to treatment, supportive services, and other long-term solutions. Despite this trend, only 2% of individuals stayed in shelter for 12 months or more, a figure that remained stable from 2023.

Making Homelessness Non-Recurring:
Sustained housing stability depends on ongoing supportive services that help individuals and families transition successfully out of homelessness. These include housing assistance, case management, job training, financial counseling, long-term recovery support, and connections to long-term housing. Permanent housing projects with supportive services are highly effective in keeping Utah’s most vulnerable in housing.

Supportive housing remains a key driver of long-term stability: 93% of individuals in permanent supportive housing either retained their housing or moved on to other permanent options, the fourth consecutive year this success rate has held steady.

“The increase in shelter capacity and improved outcomes reflect the impact of legislative investment,” added Niederhauser. “We’re deeply grateful to the Utah Legislature for equipping us with the tools to respond more effectively, expand services, and maintain accountability through data. These efforts move us closer to our goal of making homelessness in Utah rare, brief, and non-recurring.”

The key findings, executive summary and dashboard are available at: jobs.utah.gov/homelessness/homelessannualdata.html

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About The Utah Office of Homeless Services: The Utah Office of Homeless Services works in partnership with communities to make homelessness in Utah rare, brief, and non-recurring. The office provides statewide support for project services, interventions, and system performance reporting. It also supports the Utah Homelessness Services Board in guiding statewide strategy and resource allocation.

About the Point-in-Time Count: The Point-in-Time count is a physical count of all homeless people living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and on the streets on a single night. It is mandated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The 2025 count was conducted on Jan. 30. Many factors influence the results of any given count, including weather, organized volunteer efforts, and Continuum of Care (CoC) planning. Within that context, the Point-in-Time count is a valuable tool in calculating a community’s need for homeless services on any given night. It is also the primary tool available for measuring the number of individuals experiencing homelessness who are not enrolled in homeless service projects in the Utah Homeless Management Information System (UHMIS).