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USU student study finds strong local support for 24-hour resource center; council urged to consult service providers
Summary
Undergraduate researchers presented survey results showing high community support for a 24-hour resource center in Cache Valley; presenters urged council to consult local providers as planning continues.
Undergraduate students from Utah State University’s social work program presented a community-attitudes survey on homelessness in Cache Valley during the April 10 council meeting.
Researchers said their online survey found a substantial majority—about 90%—of respondents “strongly agree” or “agree” that a 24-hour resource center should open in the valley. The team reported that roughly 8% of respondents said they had experienced homelessness personally and that about 60% know someone who has experienced homelessness. The presenters noted that reasons cited for homelessness include housing costs and domestic violence and that community perception affects local policy options.
Lead researcher Stormy Wolf and teammates described the 2024 PIT (point-in-time) count results discussed with the council: 48 people were identified as experiencing homelessness in the county; presenters said roughly 15% of those were completely unsheltered in that count. The students recommended that local leaders consult service providers to shape any new resource-center plans and noted the survey’s strong endorsement for a resource center, while also advising the council to account for neighborhood concerns and to present clear information when proposals come forward.
Why it matters: The presentation framed homelessness as a local issue with diverse causes and pointed to public willingness to support a centralized resource. Staff and council members asked about survey distribution, representativeness and how the data will be used; the students said the survey was distributed online via social media and local partners and that they plan to provide a written report for council review.
Quotes: “90% of respondents said they strongly agree that there should be a 24-hour resource center opening in our ground,” a presenter summarized of the survey results.
Next steps: The council received the students’ materials and was invited to reach out to the student team and local service providers for follow-up. Presenters offered additional data and an invitation to contact the lead researcher for more details.
Ending: Council members thanked the students for local research and asked staff to keep the data in mind when discussing homelessness initiatives.
