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Utah’s Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness And Reduce Overall Homelessness by 2014It’s hard to imagine an America where everyone has access to safe, affordable housing. Street homelessness has persisted for so long that it has practically become an accepted fact of city life. But it shouldn’t be. Homelessness persists because society’s fixes haven’t worked, not because the problem is insurmountable. Growing pressure on shelters and other emergency services should serve as proof that the system is inadequate to the challenge of significantly reducing, or ending, homelessness. Instead, it has fueled stereotypes of an underclass of people who, it’s said, “choose to live on the streets,” or are “beyond hope.” Fortunately, there is hope. A philosophical shift is happening across the country as states rethink the shortterm shelter model and move from a strategy of managing homelessness, to ending it. This entails placing the chronically homeless into permanent, subsidized housing, a secure base from which they can begin to resolve the problems that precipitated their fall. “Housing first,” or ending homelessness by housing the homeless, seems an absurdly obvious solution. Yet, it’s a significant departure from the old way of doing business, which was to offer housing as a reward to those deserving few who first managed to kick drugs and find steady jobs. Utah began experimenting with “housing first” in 2002. That year, Utah Lt. Governor Olene Walker, who later became governor, convened an unprecedented group of public, private and nonprofit leaders to develop a blueprint for ending chronic homelessness by 2014. It’s a goal that has been embraced by 49 states and more than 300 local jurisdictions. The goals of Utah’s Homeless Coordinating Committee are:
Taking their cue from the blueprint, local committees in 12 regions throughout the state have developed their own plans, tailored to their unique demographics and social needs. Many have launched locallygrown experiments, which are already paying dividends. Statewide, more than 100 men and women have moved off the streets into permanent housing, blanketed by supports like job counseling and treatment for addictions and mental illness. By 2009, more than 500 will occupy apartments, roughly a quarter of the state’s longterm homeless population. But there’s still work to be done. Local homeless coordinating committees are just now looking upstream at how to prevent homelessness: building more affordable housing for families living on the edge, helping adults transition from jail or prison, and aiding youths as they exit foster care. Downstream, there’s also an unmet need for permanent, supported housing. Ending chronic homelessness by 2014 will require an additional 1,840 housing units. These individuals will require intensive case management. In addition, Utah’s 11,569 temporarily homeless citizens will require a combination of emergency shelter and transitional housing. Quick Facts
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