Solutions Utah

Harvard director Gloria Gong explains how “reverse engineering” could improve the way government services are delivered to improve outcomes for the homeless. An excerpt from the 2026 Solutions Utah conference is found on our YouTube page, link in our bio.

HHS just announced a $700 million investment in treatment programs to combat mental health and drug addictions among homeless populations. A sizable portion will support the efforts of community health clinics while some of the money will be targeted to Native American and rural communities as well as prevention initiatives aimed at infants, children, families and su***de prevention. Under a program called STREETS, eight cities will receive grants totaling $12 million over a 4-year period to develop multi-sector, state-of-the-art care systems. This allocation is an outgrowth of the White House Executive Order issued last July entitled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.”

On Capitol Hill today:

Solutions Utah leaders met with legislators at the SL Chamber of Commerce’s annual salute to lawmakers who support Utah’s business community.

Honored were Senators Vickers and Sandall as well as Representatives Owens and Peterson.

America’s homeless housing policy is failing because it’s “housing without rules,” said Robert Marbut, America’s homeless architect. Speaking at the 2026 Solutions Utah Conference Marbut said HUD is pushing hard to restore accountability and treatment services.

The Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness reported at their June membership meeting a sharp rise in serious mental illness among Utah’s homeless population between 2024 and 2026 — especially those presenting in ERs or in crisis.

Nationally acclaimed journalist and author Sam Quinones, a Solutions Utah keynote conference speaker in 2025, recently described the fear and hopelessness gripping several Los Angeles neighborhoods dealing with homeless encampments:

“The homeless population had grown aggressive, threatening, often psychotic. People in tents were up all night, screaming, fighting. They stole power from a transformer. Rats grew large and plentiful. Children on their way to school had to cross the street to avoid the encampment. Tents were vectors for human exploitation – r**e, pimping, drug sales, etc. This was especially true in working-class neighborhoods: Koreatown, Mid-City, South-Central, Pico-Union, and Hollywood. The city’s attitude, however, was that case law prevented it from doing anything about the spreading encampments. The county death toll of street homeless people reached seven a day. Said one resident of East Hollywood:
‘I’d rather have MS13 here than that.’”

Since groundbreaking ceremonies three years ago, The Other Side Village is now a community of 60+ tiny homes with many amenities and new social enterprise concepts. The Other Side Inn — an AirBnb concept — is progressing, as is the Other Side Foods. A Bodega Store and Farmers Market are about to open. Solutions Utah held our board meeting there recently.

We’re watching the work of the Homelessness Mitigation Task Force — under the direction of the Utah League of Cities and Towns — to produce recommendations about how much non-shelter cities in Utah will contribute to shelter mitigation funds as well as how much eligible cities will receive. Recent appointments include 6 mayors from Ogden, South Salt Lake, Tooele, Bountiful, Orem and Springdale. SLC Mayor Mendenhall was selected as the state appointee.

Congratulations to our 2026 Solutions Utah Award winners: Switchpoint CEO Carol Hollowell, presented with the Community Leadership Award, and John Douglas Clapp, founder of the North Temple Community Improvement Alliance in Salt Lake, presented with the Garbett Award at our May 21 annual conference at The Grand America Hotel.

Downtown donut lovers in Salt Lake are about to get rewarded. The Other Side Donuts is opening a new shop at 575 East 100 South. $1 of every purchase of these scrumptious treats benefits The Other Side Village, a program that lifts individuals out of homelessness and poverty. Watch for news about the opening.