Utah’s ambitious plan to build a 1,200-bed homeless shelter has encountered significant delays, pushing the expected opening of the facility beyond its original deadline of October.
The state’s homelessness board had aimed to debut a new homeless campus by this fall, but challenges in securing an appropriate property have stalled progress.
Sarah Nielson, a spokesperson for state homeless services, acknowledged the setback, stating, “The original timeline has been delayed, primarily due to challenges in identifying a suitable property. The Office of Homeless Services is still actively working through the site selection process.”
The delays arise amid a growing homelessness crisis in Utah, specifically in Salt Lake County, which is currently 800 to 1,200 beds short, according to Wayne Niederhauser, the state homelessness coordinator.
In response to rising homelessness, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall is implementing a public safety plan, which emphasizes the need for more shelter space to help those experiencing homelessness find refuge rather than sleeping on the streets.
Mendenhall has expressed that progress on the new facility has now stalled and has called for state lawmakers to ensure adequate funding for both the development and ongoing operations of the homeless campus.
Last year, the Utah Homeless Services Board tasked its staff with locating a 30-acre site along the Wasatch Front to build the campus.
Early discussions included the possibility of constructing the shelter on the site of Salt Lake County’s Oxbow Jail near the Jordan River, but that plan was ultimately abandoned.
In April, state officials conducted a meeting regarding potential sites in the Northpoint neighborhood on the west side of Salt Lake City.
Without a finalized location, the state cannot engage in community discussions or finalize operational arrangements with service providers, according to Nielson.
While Utah lawmakers have allocated $25 million towards purchasing land for the facility, operational funding has not yet been designated.
There remains hope that private contributions could supplement the necessary resources for the campus’s functioning.
Salt Lake City’s homelessness director, Andrew Johnston, reiterated that the city is doing everything possible to facilitate the campus’s progress.
“As a city, we’ve proposed city-owned land, provided essential information such as fair market value for the eminent domain process, and granted state access to the intended site for due diligence and research,” Johnston stated, emphasizing the city’s commitment to ensuring shelter and housing for all individuals.
Nielson has characterized City Hall as an “active partner” in planning the project.
While the city has proposed hosting a temporary shelter on city property during the construction of the new facility, Johnston indicated that the state is now considering erecting the permanent campus on that same site, complicating the logistics for a temporary solution.
As the timeline for the new shelter stretches indefinitely, Salt Lake City and neighboring municipalities are beginning preparations for emergency winter beds to assist those facing homelessness on harsh winter nights.
A multi-city task force plans to present its strategy regarding winter emergency beds to the state’s homeless services board in the upcoming month.
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