In 2010, 15,642 Utahans experienced homelessness.

Salt Lake Community Action Program’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) kept hundreds of families in their homes. In fact, the agency’s efforts were 89% effective in preventing homelessness.

To prevent individuals from slipping into homelessness, the first step in the program was to assess the risk of individuals who reported a housing crisis or were in a precarious housing situation. These risks included individuals and families having incomes below 50% of the area’s median income; lacking protective factors such as friends, family members, churches, and other supportive groups; and/or lacking the financial resources to meet their current or near future rental obligations.

HPRP then assessed the immediate barriers to stable housing and prioritized intervention depending on the level of need. Barriers included lack of support networks, deep poverty, domestic violence, disabilities, criminal backgrounds, lack of education, substance abuse, and loss of employment or poor employment history.

This standardized assessment tool and intake process (developed by local jurisdictions, homeless providers, and prevention programs) helped HPRP be more effective in preventing homelessness by determining the appropriate level of intervention. This improved the targeting and outcomes of the program. People with the highest risk and most severe barriers received the most intensive interventions.

CSBG funds were vital to the program, supporting the staff who managed HPRP, and all other related costs. Salt Lake Community Action Program’s network of community partners helped provide additional financial housing assistance and mentoring for those households with multiple long-term barriers to stabilization. Salt Lake Community Action Program stabilized 833 families through these HPRP interventions and by supplementing families’ rents for one to six months.

Data sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2007 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: Statewide poverty percentages, GCT1701, Ratio of income to poverty level, C17002
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2009 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: Statewide poverty percentages, GCT1701, Ratio of income to poverty level, C17002
• Half in Ten analysis of Table 1, 2007 State Expenditure Report, National Association of State Budget Officers.
• Half in Ten analysis of Table 1, 2009 State Expenditure Report, National Association of State Budget Officers.
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2007 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: R2515
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2009 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: R2515