Dive Brief:
- The National Homelessness Law Center last week launched a campaign to prevent federal funding for projects it described as “homeless detention camps,” specifically referencing a 1,300-bed homeless shelter the state of Utah plans to construct in the northwest quadrant of Salt Lake City.
- Utah’s proposed shelter will reportedly include involuntary detention elements for some of those sheltered there, a policy in line with Trump administration efforts to address homelessness in part via civil commitment.
- “Utah’s plan to confine people who cannot afford rent in a government-run homeless detention camp demands national attention,” stated Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., who joined NHLC’s campaign. “Instead of criminalizing poverty, leaders should be investing in housing, treatment, and economic opportunity.”
Dive Insight:
As Utah faces a mounting homelessness crisis, the state’s proposed homeless services campus, located on 15.85 acres, has been lauded by state and local government officials as progress.
“Our state has long needed more shelter beds and services, and this campus represents a critical step forward in supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a statement when the location for the facility was unveiled last September.
Mendenhall also said the facility could help local first responders by reducing the number of emergency calls and freeing up more time for law enforcement to focus on public safety.
In December, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox proposed a one-time payment of $25 million from the state for the project, along with $20 million in ongoing funds, KSL reported. Cox also unveiled plans to work with the Trump administration to secure additional funding, as the project reflects President Donald Trump’s treatment-first approach to homelessness, according to Cox.
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., also joined NHLC's campaign to block the facility from receiving any federal funds, calling instead for more housing. The campaign plans to send a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner urging HUD to deny all requests for federal funding for such projects.
The proposed facility has long received pushback from neighborhood residents who argue the nearby campus will decrease their quality of life and encroach on protected wetlands in the area.
Initial operations of the campus are expected to begin in 2027. The campus will offer services for mental health, employment, criminal justice assistance and housing, according to a press release from the Utah Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.
