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Community Action Services warns of rising homelessness, urges housing and workforce supports
Summary
Jessica Miller of Community Action Services told the Payson City Council that homelessness and food insecurity rose in 2025 and urged local support for affordable housing, job training and expanded pantry access; the council asked about funding and community-garden partnerships.
Jessica Miller, Chief Impact Officer for Community Action Services, told the Payson City Council that the agency is seeing rising need across Utah County and urged local support for housing and workforce programs. "Community Action Services served 22,607 unduplicated individuals in 2025, including 619 unduplicated residents from Payson," Miller said, noting the group's "Food + More" model that links food assistance to housing and education services.
Miller summarized data from the agency's needs assessment and the 2025 Utah County homeless count, saying homelessness rose 34% and the county had an estimated 87,320 residents (12.8%) experiencing food insecurity in 2025. She contrasted a reported average wage of roughly $32.50 per hour with the study's estimated living wage of $49.00 per hour to illustrate a widening affordability gap. Councilmembers asked where funding comes from; Miller said most funds are federal with some local support. A council discussion explored partnerships with MTech/UVU for job training and the feasibility of city-supported community gardens; Miller said a garden would require a city-provided location and funding.
Council members expressed interest in further collaboration: Councilmember Hulet suggested connecting Community Action Services to local workforce programs, and Assistant City Manager Robert Mills praised the agency's local services. The council discussed informal support options such as hosting or promoting a fundraising auction; no formal action was taken.
