Poverty & Homelessness

Poverty and homelessness remain pressing challenges in Utah, shaped by economic pressures that affect many residents but especially women. While only about 4% of married‑couple families live in poverty, the rate climbs to 36% for single‑mother households with young children. As poverty deepens for these families, the likelihood of experiencing homelessness also increases, contributing to a rise in women seeking housing support. In 2025, Utah data indicated that 12,823 women accessed homeless services because they were at risk of being homeless, experiencing temporary or chronic homelessness, or because they were in transition to permanent housing. Although there are initiatives focused on these challenges for all genders, Utah needs more conversations, data, and solutions by gender. Addressing these disparities strengthens families, supports economic stability, and creates healthier, more resilient communities across Utah.

A Bolder Way Forward’s Poverty & Homelessness Spoke is working with partners statewide to significantly reduce poverty and homelessness for girls and women in Utah. Visit the resources below to learn how Utah can help families have access to safe, decent, affordable housing with the needed resources and supports for self-sufficiency and wellbeing. Individuals, organizations, and communities can also take specific actions to help. To get engaged, email the UWLP Community Connector (Amy Anderson).

Key Resources

Informational Video

Resource Kit

Research Snapshot

What Utahns Need to Know

Spoke Podcast

Bold Goals

Through collective impact and systems thinking, Utah can improve things by working towards the following goals:

Increase outreach to populations experiencing food and housing insecurity, with a focus on nutrition education, resource navigation, and equitable access to healthy food. [Metric Forthcoming]
Reduce the number of Utah women experiencing homelessness. [Metric Forthcoming]
Pass legislative policies that work to mitigate poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity in Utah. [Metric Forthcoming]
Shift Utahns’ agreement (understanding and perceptions) in the following areas: [Metric Dashboard]
1. If one is experiencing poverty in Utah, it is the result of their own choices. (Decrease agreement)
2. If one is experiencing homelessness in Utah, it is the result of their own choices. (Decrease agreement)
3. I don’t think there is much I can do about poverty and homelessness in my
  community. (Decrease agreement)
4. Home is the first step toward positioning children and families for the opportunity
  to thrive and to plan for the future. (Increase agreement)

Spoke Advisors

Stefanie Jones (Interim Statewide Coordinator, Community Action Partnership)
Palak Gupta (Co-Director, USU Hunger Solutions Institute)
Lea Palmer (Associate Director, Create Better Health SNAP-Ed)

What You Can Do

Learn about the root causes of poverty and homelessness and share this knowledge with others. Understand and use appropriate language when discussing these challenges.

Contact developers and community decision makers to raise awareness of the challenges around housing and ensure more attainable housing is available.

Learn about and share nutrition education and food resources available in your community.

Community Partners

CAP Utah is the statewide association for Utah’s nine Community Action Agencies. They provide advocacy, training, and technical assistance to help agencies address the causes of poverty and expand opportunities for low‑income Utahns.

Create Better Health is Utah’s SNAP‑Ed program offering nutrition education and food‑resource management to help all Utahns eat well on a budget. It provides classes, recipes, and community programs supporting healthier living across Utah.

The Hunger Solutions Institute at USU Extension works to develop solutions to hunger through education, research, and community partnerships. It strengthens collaboration among hunger‑relief organizations and advances statewide efforts.

The Utah Office of Homeless Services works to address homelessness statewide by coordinating funding, data, strategic planning, and partnerships. It aims to strengthen Utah’s homeless‑response system and support individuals in achieving stability.

The Utah Food Security Council, housed within the USU Hunger Solutions Institute, coordinates statewide efforts to improve access to nutritious food for Utah families. It develops policy recommendations and unites partners to strengthen food‑security initiatives.

Shelter the Homeless serves individuals experiencing homelessness and works with partners to develop safe facilities and expand solutions to prevent and end homelessness in Utah. Its six resource centers in Salt Lake Co. provide connections to community services.

Switchpoint is a nonprofit that helps end homelessness by pairing shelter and housing with case management, food access, and individualized support. Through resource centers and services across Utah, it addresses the root causes of poverty.

End Utah Homelessness coordinates Utah’s homeless‑response system by aligning regional Continuums of Care and Local Homeless Councils. It promotes best practices and advances policies that expand affordable housing and supportive services.

Community Action Services and Food Bank provides emergency food and housing support to stabilize individuals and families. It helps Utahns build self‑reliance through education, case management, and programs that strengthen financial stability.

Women of the World helps forcibly displaced women in Utah through employment and education support and English classes. These services reduce barriers tied to poverty and housing instability, empowering women to build stable, independent lives.