Permanent supportive housing near fairgrounds for chronically homeless under construction
Jun 19, 2025, 7:00 AM
"44 North" will house around 67 individuals who are struggling with homelessness and serious mental illness. (Shelby Lofton/KSL TV)
(Shelby Lofton/KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY — On Wednesday, officials broke ground on a new facility that around 67 chronically homeless people will call home.
First Step House is opening the facility in summer of 2026, specifically for people with mental illness. It’s located at 44 North 1000 West next to Madsen Park.
“62 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units, so it’s not a congregate setting,” said First Step House executive director Shawn McMillen. “An individual has their own apartment. They sign a lease.”
He said residents have to meet specific criteria to live here. All residents must make 30% or below of the area median income.
“Individuals who struggle with serious mental health conditions, who have been homeless or chronically homeless and really struggle to stay stably housed without supportive services on site,” he said.
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First Step House is a behavioral health services provider that helps people with diagnoses make plans and get support. It has other permanent supportive housing facilities around town, including The Stratford.
Most people who will live at “44 North” have little or no income.
“That population that doesn’t go into other housing settings and experience a lot of success because they have needs that exceed the capacity of just a landlord or a property manager,” McMillen said.
McMillen said many of these folks have been homeless for at least a decade. Around 67 of them will have their own apartment and a lease.
They’ll have staff there 24/7 for help and support.
“Our job is to have services in proximity to them so that we can help them stay stable,” McMillen said. “If they want to work, they can work.”
McMillen said they have to meet standards and follow their lease like anyone else.
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The services and building are paid for through a public private partnership. McMillen said the services are paid for by what is called the “Medicaid Support of living rate.”
“The primary source of funding are what are called Low-Income Housing Tax Credits,” McMillen said. “This project’s got about $13 million in private equity, and then we’ve got another tranche from the Utah Office of Homeless Services, another tranche from Olene Walker to get us to the $20 million that it’s costing us to build the building.”
The facility is designed to help people in the long term.
“Most will live out their days with us, and that’s the hope,” he said.
Read the original story at KSLTV.com.
