Lack of overflow beds may lead to pressure on existing homeless shelters

Nov 10, 2022, 9:00 AM | Updated: Dec 30, 2022, 11:16 am

(The entrance of the new homeless shelter, which used to be the Ramada Inn in Salt Lake City. Photo: Paul Nelson)

KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — Homeless advocates and city officials are trying to find more overflow beds for people experiencing homelessness, but have so far failed to meet their quota. The lack of beds could cause pressure on shelters across the state.

A bill passed earlier this year required the state to provide 400 overflow beds for the homeless. As temperatures keep dropping following the latest storm overflow beds are crucial.

The state needs 60 more beds to complete its quota.

Last year, in Salt Lake City alone, over 6,000 people experiencing homelessness were sheltered.

The location with the most overflow beds is the Calvin Smith Library in Millcreek with 100 beds.

Shelters say they are not yet at capacity and they do encourage anyone seeking shelter to come to them. Without overflow beds, shelters will take on more than they had planned.

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