A new renters coalition in Utah hopes to prevent evictions, increase housing
May 8, 2025, 6:46 PM
A "for rent" sign at a property in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023.(Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah housing advocates want to reduce evictions and other issues faced by those seeking low-income housing via the new Landlord and Community Partners Coalition.
Those behind the renters coalition said they hope to connect different people and organizations, including landlords and community-based organizations, to prevent evictions and increase the amount of housing available to low-income Utahns.
Related: Federal housing vouchers in Utah in high demand
“This is a bold initiative to address Utah’s housing challenges,” said Utah Housing Coalition Project Manager Zoë Newmann.
Renters coalition eyes voucher placements in Utah
Newmann said one issue in particular stands out as a catalyst for creating a renters coalition like LCPC — the failure rate in voucher placements for the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) across Utah.
According to reporting from KSL.com, people trying to use the federal program can wait for years at a time. In 2025, KSL.com and the Utah Investigative Journalism Project reported that wait times for a voucher could be anywhere from a few months to several years depending on the county.
“These are the cards we were dealt with, Utah. Let’s roll with it and lets try to come up with housing solutions together,” said Newmann.
Dwindling supply of low-income housing in Utah
Newmann and the coalition say that eviction rates can be lowered by increasing Utah’s low income housing supply.
According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, factors such as rising interest rates, rising home prices, and a desire not to mix housing types, are all contributing factors to low-income housing in Utah.
“For every 100 low-income renter households, only about 67 units are available that are affordable,” says the coalition in its report.
“The state is estimated to be short over 21,558 low-income housing units,” the coalition also said.
And the time is ripe. Newmann said it’s important to iron out these problems now “given the current cost of living and political climate.” The coalition will meet for the first time at the end of May.
