Utah Legislature approves $55 million for affordable housing

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Legislature has approved $55 million for over 1,000 affordable housing units across the state. But the money was only a percentage of what homelessness advocates requested.

Utah Homelessness Coordinator Wayne Niederhauser told the hosts of KSL@Night that advocates asked for more than $160 million.

“When it comes to balancing the budget, they have to cut a lot of things down, but, $55 million is unprecedented,” Niederhauser said.

Niederhauser said that the 1,000-plus units will be run by non-profits and other organizations seeking aid for the housing.

“For-profit and non-profit applicants … will work with the local homeless councils to coordinate people coming in from homelessness,” Niederhauser said.

People eligible for the affordable housing units will have to make 30% less than the median income in the area where they live.

Niederhauser said he hopes they’ll be able to get more funding to do even more in the future.

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