Mayor Jenny Wilson Unveils 5-Year Action Plan for Human Services, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Reform

Mayor Jenny Wilson announced a comprehensive 5-year action plan to tackle homelessness, behavioral health challenges, and criminal justice reform in Salt Lake County. This plan, developed through collaboration with experts and community stakeholders, aims to create an integrated approach to these critical issues.

“We now have a clear vision of the need, gaps, and solutions,” said Mayor Jenny Wilson. “Our approach will ensure homelessness in Salt Lake County becomes brief, rare, and non-recurring.”

Vision: Homelessness is brief, rare, and non-recurring.

Goals:

• Improve System Access:
  • Streamline access to housing, behavioral health, employment, and other services.
• Enhance Collaboration and Efficiency:
  • Work with agencies to improve outcomes and reduce costs.
• Ensure Accountability:
  • Hold individuals accountable for serious crimes while preventing re-entry into the criminal justice system.
• Decriminalize Homelessness:
  • Focus on solutions that do not criminalize homelessness.

Challenges Identified:

• Insufficient affordable, supportive housing for an estimated 1,000 unsheltered individuals in the county.
• Shortage of trained behavioral health professionals and housing for those with mental health and substance use disorders.
• Need for targeted enforcement against the surge of fentanyl use.
• Overburdened jail system serving as a default for individuals with behavioral health issues.
• Lack of robust coordination among systems and need for integrated data.

Key Solutions:

1. Housing: “1,000 in 5 Initiative”
• Add 1,000 units of housing in five years, including group homes and supportive housing for mental illness and homelessness.
• Progress includes opening 69 group home beds since November 2023.
2. Law Enforcement Training:
• Enhanced training for responding to mental health crises and using the New Receiving Center as an alternative to jail.
3. Drug Enforcement:
• Add 10 new DEA Task Force Officers.
4. New Facilities:
• Justice and Accountability Center (JAC): Provides transitional housing, behavioral health services, and community support.
• 100-Bed Step-Down Facility: Helps inmates reenter the community with access to education, employment, and housing.

Funding:

• The plan seeks support through Medicaid, opioid settlement funds, grants, state and federal resources, and philanthropic contributions.

Read the full 5-Year Action Plan for Human Services, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Reform below: