The notion that homeless people are all drug addicts or mentally ill, officials say, is misguided. Nonetheless, a recent report from the Utah Foundation — a nonpartisan, nonprofit public-policy research group — states that 29 percent do suffer from mental illness and 23 percent are substance abusers.
The foundation’s “research brief” on homelessness and poverty highlights homeless subgroups and the ongoing challenges facing Utahns who seek respite in Salt Lake City from homeless-service providers. The enterprise is part of the foundation’s Utah Priorities Project on issues important to voters.
According to the report, homelessness in Utah is at a 10-year low. The annual Point in Time count in January put Utah’s homeless population at 2,807. In 2009, it was 3,527. It also states that homelessness among families is down 19.5 percent.
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