Wayne Niederhauser of the Office of Homeless Services told the Salt Lake City Council on Nov. 18 that the state has identified a 15.85‑acre parcel at 2200 North as the preferred site for a transformational homeless services campus and has entered into a purchase contract expected to close after the upcoming legislative session.

Niederhauser said the team has completed preliminary due diligence — including soils and traffic analyses — and identified roughly a half‑acre of wetlands that are non‑jurisdictional and therefore do not require a Section 404 permit. He described the campus as a "human‑centered" hub intended to provide year‑round beds and services to move people from needing help to long‑term stability.

The office has selected AJC Architects through procurement to begin design work, and staff said they are incorporating stakeholder input, trauma‑informed design, mosquito mitigation, a limited ingress/egress approach for security, and options such as micro‑shelters to provide non‑congregate spaces.

Why this matters: Council members repeatedly stressed that a campus model must be paired with robust operational plans and exit pathways into permanent housing. The city has invested millions in housing programs and mitigation; council members pressed federal, state, and philanthropic partners to ensure funding for both capital and ongoing operations.

Council concerns and details: Council member Petro asked whether programmatic decisions — therapeutic modalities, harm reduction, and length of stay — are being set before the building design. Niederhauser responded that the campus is still in early design and that programmatic specifics will be developed with partner stakeholders and operators. He cited prior winter responses that temporarily housed several hundred people and estimated that existing temporary resource centers cost about $53–$55 per person per night, while the proposed campus would cost roughly $65 per person per night, with the governor's funding proposal including both capital and operational components.

Several council members pressed who will run the campus and how accountability will be maintained. Niederhauser said the likely model is an operating nonprofit selected to manage day‑to‑day services under the direction of a board, and emphasized coordination with local governments for public safety funding and mitigation. He also said the project team has been engaging with Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, the League of Cities and Towns, and homelessness providers for input.

Funding and next steps: The Office of Homeless Services has submitted a funding request to the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget; Niederhauser said the governor's budget — and the request detail — will be public when the governor releases the budget in early December. The office expects legislative decisions to be a critical determinant of the timeline and closing on the city purchase contract is expected after the legislative session. Staff will continue stakeholder meetings and a board session to receive presentations from providers and local governments.

Council action: No formal council vote occurred during the work session. Council members thanked Niederhauser for his service; Nick Coleman was introduced as interim coordinator beginning in December.

What happens next: The governor's budget release (first week of December, as stated by staff) and subsequent legislative action will determine the availability of state dollars for capital and operations. The Office of Homeless Services will continue design coordination with AJC Architects and public engagement on operations and safety plans.