Committee holds bill that would let cities get credits for local homelessness services; shelter cities warn of funding losses

Salt Lake City — The Political Subdivisions Committee on Jan. 22 heard hours of testimony on a bill by Representative Eric Abbott (sponsor identified in committee) that would let cities receive a credit against required contributions to the state's homelessness mitigation fund for each dollar they spend on qualifying local homelessness services.

Abbott told the committee the change aims to encourage cities that do not host low-barrier congregate shelters to invest in alternatives such as rapid rehousing, homeless prevention and other housing-based services. Under his proposal cities that provide qualifying services could reduce their payment into the mitigation fund by $0.50 for every $1.00 the city spends on those services, using the statutory criteria listed in Utah Code 35A-16-302.

"We know what works," Abbott told the committee, citing the Utah Statewide Collaboration for Change report, and urging incentives to expand housing-based solutions. He said congregate emergency shelters have had low exit rates into…