The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) at Utah State University has released a new research snapshot titled “Homelessness Among Utah Women: A 2025 Update.” The brief examines national and state trends, the demographic characteristics of Utah women experiencing homelessness, contributing factors, and efforts underway to reduce homelessness. As Utah enters the winter season and families prepare for the holidays, it is essential to acknowledge that there are many Utahns who face the coldest months without stable housing.
Some key highlights from the report include:
Background and National Trends:
- The total number of people experiencing homelessness in the US in 2024 was 771,480, the highest ever recorded in US history.
- Almost all populations reached record levels in 2024, including homelessness with people in families with children, individuals, individuals with chronic patterns of homelessness
Key Factors for Increase:
- Record-high homelessness is driven by a worsening affordable housing crisis, low incomes, weak safety nets, and rising inflation. In 2023, half of renter households were cost-burdened, with 12.2 million severely so.
- In 2023, half of all renter households (a record high of 22.6 million) were cost burdened, meaning they spent more than 30.0% of their incomes on rent and utilities.
Utah Data:
- In 2025, there was an 18.0% increase from 2024 in the number of Utahns experiencing homelessness on a single night. Utah’s homelessness rate is now 13 per 10,000 people (up from 11 per 10,000 in 2024) or 4,584 Utahns.
- Between 2023 and 2024, the number of Utah women experiencing homelessness rose from 1,385 to 1,429. In 2023, 18.0% of these women were unsheltered, which increased to 18.8% in 2024.
- Domestic violence remains a significant factor as well: more than 1,100 women accessing services in 2025 had experienced domestic violence, and 329 were fleeing abuse at the time they sought help.
Reducing homelessness in Utah requires prioritizing housing affordability and directing resources to the state’s most vulnerable populations: women, children, seniors, veterans, and racial minorities. We must prioritize long-term solutions that focus on affordability, prevention, and wraparound supports. When we strengthen stability for women and families, we strengthen communities across the state.
