Trump administration holds up Utah as national example on this issue

The Trump administration has shifted its focus on homelessness funding, advocating for a behavioral treatment model rather than traditional shelter beds. With a proposed $4 billion allocation for behavioral treatment, Utah has emerged as a leading example of this new approach. Governor Spencer Cox reported that the state's initiatives have led to a 40% reduction in arrests, with plans to expand these efforts further. U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner commended Utah for its innovative strategies that prioritize treatment and self-sufficiency over merely increasing shelter capacity.

In this new framework, federal funding has been redirected to support a recovery-oriented model. Utah receives about $2.9 million in Continuum of Care funding, along with an additional $16 million annually for homeless services. Under the Trump administration, HUD has made grants more competitive, allowing applicants to seek funding for a wider range of services, including medical care, employment assistance, and street outreach. This marks a significant departure from previous policies that primarily emphasized increasing the number of available beds.

The "human first" approach advocated by Utah’s homelessness coordinator, Tyler Clancy, aims to address the root causes of homelessness, such as substance abuse and mental health issues. Turner highlighted Utah's success in reducing homelessness as evidence that this treatment-centric model is more effective than the previous "housing first" strategy, which focused primarily on the number of beds available. He criticized the "housing first" model as a failure, asserting that a "treatment first" approach is the key to better outcomes.

Despite the increased funding and focus on treatment, the national trend in homelessness has been troubling. Since the adoption of the "housing first" model in 2013, homelessness has risen by 27%, and recent data indicates a 33% increase in homelessness under President Joe Biden, reaching a historic high of 771,500 individuals. Even with a 151% increase in taxpayer-funded beds, unsheltered homelessness has grown by 36%, and chronic homelessness has surged by 81%. In response, Utah's Legislature has embraced a comprehensive strategy that integrates shelter, behavioral health, and resources for high utilizers of police services.

While Utah's model is gaining recognition and support, the federal changes raise concerns about their broader implications, particularly for disabled Americans. New interpretations of Supreme Court rulings may facilitate the institutionalization of homeless individuals, which could undermine long-standing commitments to assist those with serious disabilities in their communities. Ongoing lawsuits also limit HUD's ability to reform the Continuum of Care process. However, recent initiatives, such as a $96 million investment in care systems for co-occurring disorders, reflect an effort to align housing opportunities with enhanced support services, continuing the momentum of Trump's Great American Recovery Initiative.