Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) asked state lawmakers to approve a budget proposal allocating nearly $50 million to a planned homeless shelter in Salt Lake City.
In the governor’s $30.7 billion proposed budget for the next fiscal year, at least $25 million would go toward building the shelter, and another $20 million would go toward operating the facility. It’s estimated to hold up to 1,300 beds, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
An additional $5 million in one-time funds would be used to expand the Other Side Village, a community made for the chronically homeless in Utah’s capital.
“We want to make Utah the worst place to camp on the street, and the best place to get help and support,” Cox said in a statement last week when he unveiled the budget proposal. “This budget recognizes that homelessness is complex, and solving it requires long-term commitment, community partnership, and a willingness to act boldly on behalf of those who need help the most.”
The governor has made the matter a priority, especially as the Beehive State has seen an increase in homelessness.
At the start of this year, Utah’s homeless population rose 18% from last year. While concerning, 95% of those new cases were sheltered. Also on the bright side, the state’s homelessness rate of 13 per 10,000 people is well below the 2024 national rate.
Homelessness is especially concentrated in the state capital, with a 9.6% increase in Salt Lake County between 2022 and 2023.
It remains to be seen whether the state legislature will approve all $45 million in funds that Cox wants for the homeless shelter. Lawmakers have historically underfunded the governor’s requests on the homelessness matter.
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However, a former state official estimated that the planned shelter will cost closer to $75 million to build and $34 million per year to run. Cox said the state would request funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to close the gap.
First, Utah lawmakers need to consider the governor’s budget proposal when they return to session early next year. The state’s general legislative session starts on Jan. 20, 2026.
