The mission of the Utah Housing Coalition is to be the leader in housing issues and to promote the increase of accessible, affordable housing statewide.  We will achieve our mission through education, advocacy, and cooperative partnerships.

Housing News

Financial Fitness Fair advise Utah families with their income

WEST VALLEY CITY - Organizers of the Financial Fitness Fair in West Valley helped families find ways to stretch their incomes. Heather Tritten from the Community Action Partnership of Utah talked with FOX 13 Saturday morning about the event. "One thing we've learned is that it's a good time to save when its not times like this," Tritten said.

FOX 13 NEWS

Mobile home advocates to lobby lawmakers

Utah mobile home owners are slated to converge at the state Capitol on Tuesday for the third annual Manufactured Homeowners Housing Day on the Hill. The Salt Lake Tribune

Residents of Unincorporated SL County to

Pay Police Protection Fees

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah - Thousands of residents and business owners in unincorporated areas of Salt Lake County will be held financially responsible for supporting the county's new Unified Police Department. The Salt Lake County Council approved a $13 million fee to pay for the new police protection in a meeting held by a three-member panel Monday afternoon at the Salt Lake County Government Center.

FOX 13 NEWS

Food bank director has passion for helping others

PROVO — When Myla Dutton started working for Community Action Services and Food Bank in 1979, the "bank" was a 5-by-7 foot pantry that served five families a week. Now, with Dutton as the executive director, the second largest food bank in the state helps nearly 150 families a day.

Deseret News

U.S. Rental Housing Characteristics: Supply, Vacancy, and Affordability

The aim of this working paper published by HUD is to document key empirical facts on U.S. rental housing market conditions – reporting both current conditions (as of second quarter 2009) as well as notable historic trends. Read the full report HERE

Number of homeless deaths continues to rise

The temperature dropped into the teens the night Kelvin Black sat down in Salt Lake City and never got up again. At 39, the homeless man had slept outside for much of his life, but things were finally looking up.

The Salt Lake Tribune & Deseret News

WHY IS JOE GETTING HEAT ASSISTANCE,

AND I HAVE BEEN DENIED?

The HEAT program would like to request all owners of apartment complexes, especially if the complex serves the low income population, to make sure your on site managers are aware of how the utilities are handled for the complex. Read the complete announcement

New Program to Increase Affordable Housing

Sixty-four foreclosed homes in Utah have been purchased over the past 90 days to be turned into affordable housing units, under a public-private partnership funded with federal stimulus money. KCPW

Shortage of Housing for Lowest Income Families Grew Significantly Between 2007 and 2008, New Data Show

In 2007, the shortage of homes affordable for extremely low income renter households (those earning 30% or less of their area median income) was 2.7 million. The shortage grew to 3.1 million homes in 2008.

Read the full PRESS RELEASE

Clearfield rezones mobile home park

Clearfield » The City Council here opted to keep three mobile home parks designated for mobile homes, but in a split decision, rezoned a fourth for commercial uses. While council members noted the Tuesday vote does not close the Clearfield Mobile Home Park, it does ready the area in case any business interests take it over.

The Salt Lake Tribune & Standard Examiner

Couple warns renters to beware after state meth laws fall short

Renters don't have enough protections in place if the rental units were contaminated by meth. KSL

Salt Lake County Has Creative Solution For Foreclosures 

For the fifth time, Salt Lake County has bought a bank-owned, abandoned house to gut, remodel then sell it. It sounds like a "flip" and in some ways it is except the county is not doing this for a profit. It is a way to deal with the ever-growing foreclosure problem. KUTV

Release of LIHEAP 1st Quarter Funds

Utah's share of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is $18,957,323 (for the 1st qtr).  The total annual award for Utah will be $31,595,538 after taking out the Tribal allotment. states can continue to set their eligibility levels up to the greater of 150 percent of poverty or 75% state median income

Wachovia awards $5.5m to loan fund

An organization that lends money to low-income groups and families across the state has received a $5.5 million boost to expand its efforts. The nonprofit community loan fund, one of two organizations in the country to win a NEXT award this year, was selected because of its financing program for manufactured housing mortgage loans, which “has the potential to change mortgage financing in the manufactured home sector across the U.S.,” according to Wachovia. Nashua Telegraph

Tenant sued by park manager

William Schultz is evicted after taking complaints to proprietor; he intends to pursue a class-action suit.  Salt Lake Tribune

SLC set to move on Broadway theater, housing makeovers

Salt Lake City is poised to pick teams to develop a Broadway-style theater on Main Street and overhaul low-income housing tenements on State Street. City officials also are pondering a lease agreement for the unoccupied Rio Grande Hotel, a longtime low-income housing haven at 428 W. 300 South. The Salt Lake Tribune

Incredible demand for services to keep Utahns from homelessness

For months, staff members at the Salt Lake Community Action Program had been turning people away. There simply wasn't enough money to help the increasing number of families living on the edge of homelessness.

The Salt Lake Tribune  

New nonprofit learning the housing rehab ropes

The new Utah Center for Affordable Housing (UCAH) is struggling to spend the state's initial $20 million in federal neighborhood stabilization funds and state affordable housing officials chose not to apply for the second round of grants. The Salt Lake Tribune

Work under way for low-income apartments in Midvale

Rising from the ashes of a historic smelter is a federally subsidized housing project that city leaders hope will be an example for property management citywide. Deseret News

Utah gets 'C' in personal financial security

The Corporation for Enterprise Development, a nonprofit study group, concludes in its "Assets & Opportunity Scorecard" that Utahns are vulnerable to current economic hardships, despite the state's promising performance in a few economic measures. Deseret News

Homeowners in St. George hit by more foreclosures

A second wave of home foreclosures is sweeping across St. George, among the fastest-growing U.S. metropolitan regions, with banks unloading properties seized from investors onto the market, driving down other homeowners' values. Standard Net

Federal Reserve Board Moves to Implement Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act

The Federal Reserve System Board of Governors (FRB) issued a notice on July 30 providing information and examination procedures for the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 (PTFA). For more information, please visit our Public Policy Web page.

Utah County may get extra cash to help low-income renters

Utah County residents relying on Section 8 housing subsidies may be one step closer to keeping their financial assistance. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development officials have told the Utah County Housing Authority to apply for funding that -- if received -- would allow the agency to keep 125 families on its rolls. The Salt Lake Tribune

HUD MAKES FUNDS AVAILABLE TO HOUSING AGENCIES

WITH SECTION 8 DIFFICULTIES

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is today advising all public housing agencies that administer HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program that additional funds have been made available to help them address funding shortfalls that may limit them from serving families participating in their HCV rental assistance programs. HUD issued this guidance to minimize the impact on families and prevent terminating housing vouchers. Read the PRESS RELEASE

On First Anniversary of Passage, Campaign Calls for Funding of National Housing Trust Fund

On the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the National Housing Trust Fund, the National Housing Trust Fund campaign calls on Congress and the Administration to capitalize the fund so communities can begin building, rehabilitating and preserving homes for the lowest income families. Read the PRESS RELEASE

Board Publishes "5 Tips for Shopping for a Mortgage"

The Federal Reserve Board has published a new guide titled, “5 Tips for Shopping for a Mortgage,” aimed at helping consumers avoid potential pitfalls and make well-informed decisions when choosing a home loan.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York   Read the PRESS RELEASE

More senior housing ready in Logan

A continuing need for senior housing prompted Logan’s Neighborhood Nonprofit Office to buy land four years ago to begin the process of building new units at affordable rental rates for the elderly. The result is this week’s opening of the 40 units of the River Park Senior Housing complex and the adjacent new office complex for Neighborhood Nonprofit. Cache Valley Daily

Layton housing assistance proves popular, productive

Karen Boyd, acting on the advice of her Realtor and being aware of how larger Utah cities will often offer housing assistance, moved quickly to capture some of the home-buying funds Layton made available this fiscal year for low- to moderate-income first-time home buyers.

Standard Net

Bonding for downtown affordable housing project approved

The planned development of more affordable housing in downtown Salt Lake City got a strong push this week as a state funding agency announced the approval of nearly $10 million in bonding for a proposed complex. Deseret News

For sale: Jobless rate adds to foreclosure woes

With the number of existing homes sold in Utah recently falling to the lowest level in 15 years, it's no surprise that some people who are trying to sell properties are becoming desperate — so desperate that about one of every six houses listed for sale is priced for less than was originally paid for it. Deseret News

New Utah nonprofit wins bid to put families into vacant housing

A start-up organization, co-founded by developer Mark Cohen and two Zions Bank executives, will oversee use of Utah's $20 million in federal neighborhood stabilization funds.  The state purchasing division awarded the competitive bid -- reopened because of a flawed first round in early May -- to Utah Center for Affordable Housing (UCAH), a self-described "new organization with no agenda or history." The Salt Lake Tribune

Stimulus dollars to improve Utah homes

Thousands of Utah homes will become less drafty as $38 million in weatherization funding is spread throughout low-income families over the next three years. The largest recipient of the funding is the Salt Lake Community Action Program which, for more than four decades, has made it its mission to curb poverty. The organization will receive $10.9 million to make home improvements that will save homeowners and renters money while reducing energy use. Salt Lake Tribune

Utah's economy to decline further

The June issue of "Utah's Economy," a monthly report produced for commercial real estate firm Commerce CRG by Jim Wood, director of the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Utah, said "the most recent forecast for the Utah economy shows a bottom established in 2009 with some signs of growth by 2010. Deseret News

Cities to receive money for fighting homelessness

State-by-state look at cities, counties and communities where stimulus money will be distributed to combat homelessness and the dollars for each location, according to the Housing and Urban Development Department:

UTAH

Utah State Program: $5,021,811

Provo: $700,321

Salt Lake City: $1,680,347

Salt Lake County: $1,005,916

Associated Press

Homelessness takes many forms

It’s the man who walked from North Salt Lake, in Tuesday’s 95-degree heat, to the Department of Workforce Services office in Woods Cross – and then hiked another two miles to the Bountiful Community Food Pantry. Or it’s one of the nearly 1,100 students classified as homeless in the Davis School District. That includes only a handful having the misfortune to live in cars or a tent, etc. Davis County Clipper

Artspace finding success in the nonprofit sector

Artspace was founded in 1980, but its efforts to provide living and working space for artists have accelerated since executive director Jessica Norie joined the organization in 1998. Deseret News

HUD Educates Partners on Renter Protections

HUD published a notice in the Federal Register on June 23 regarding the new Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA). The notice describes the obligations imposed on immediate successors of interest in any residential property following a foreclosure. Read the full notice on

NLIHC Web site

Provo selects neighborhoods for HUD grants

PROVO — Six neighborhoods will benefit from two annual U.S. Housing and Urban Development grants over the next fiscal year. Deseret News

Questions surround housing for homeless seniors

Despite lingering community outrage and multiple financial delays, the Kelly Benson apartments for homeless seniors are finally under construction in West Valley City. For advocates of the homeless, the facility is one more housing success in Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune

Four groups bid on affordable-housing program

In a do-over, four groups have submitted bids to oversee the distribution of $20 million in federal dollars aimed at reducing foreclosures and homelessness in Utah. The bidders were Weber Housing Authority, Froerer Real Estate Inc. Property Management, Utah Center for Affordable Housing and Utah Community Reinvestment Corp.

The Salt Lake Tribune

New Federal Law Gives Utah Renters New Rights

Advocates and state lawmakers who worked on a housing bill last legislative session teamed up yesterday to spread the word about a new federal law that gives Utah's renters more time to move out if their home is foreclosed on. KCPW

Affordable 'green' housing springs up in Magna

The nonprofit Community Development Corp. of Utah is building the first of five homes for low-income families on a vacant Magna field, loading it with energy-efficient insulation and gadgets that will save the owner hundreds of dollars a year.  The Salt Lake Tribune  Deseret News

Utah officials promote new federal law providing

renters a safety net

Fresh federal legislation, signed into law May 20 by President Barack Obama, gives renters in foreclosed properties the right of at least 90 days notice before having to move. The Salt Lake Tribune

Legislators and Advocates Seek to Spread the Word about Important New Legislation

Utah Housing Coalition and Community Action Partnership of Utah will hold a news conference on June 17 to discuss Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, which was signed into law on May 20, 2009 by President Obama. Effective as of that date, tenants in foreclosed properties must be given a notice at least 90 days before being required to move. Read the full PRESS RELEASE

Utah Housing Coalition Celebrates Manufactured Housing Week

This week, National Manufactured Housing Week, Utah Housing Coalition is dispelling myths and opening the doors of homeownership to all income levels in America, by improving housing in a previously ignored sector—manufactured homes. Read the full PRESS RELEASE

Utahns make dash for 'Home Runs': Supply of $6,000 federal grants for those buying new homes is almost exhausted

Since being signed into law in mid-March, the state's "Home Run" housing grant program has committed to doling out more than 1,400 grants of $6,000 each to Utahns purchasing newly constructed, never-occupied, single-family homes. Deseret News

Group helps keep manufactured homes in place

Though more than 75,000 Utahns still live in manufactured homes, many are losing the ground that their homes rest on. At a recent seminar held at the Memorial Courthouse in downtown Farmington, it was noted that the majority of Utah’s manufactured homes are sited in “leased-land” communities. Davis County Clipper

Homelessness in Rural Utah

Utah Homeless Task Force Director Lloyd Pendleton says the homeless problem in rural communities is often hidden: Encampments are more difficult to find and the community sometimes doesn't want to acknowledge it. There are currently an estimated 2,500 homeless people, including 250 who are chronically homeless, in rural parts of the state. Pendleton says two new projects in Price and Helper will not only help some of them get back on their feet, but they'll be good for the entire community. KCPW

Housing aid project to be rebid

A state official has decided to halt the award of a bid to administer nearly $20 million in federal affordable-housing funds and rebid the project, saying the process has been unfair. Palmer DePaulis, executive director of Utah's Department of Community and Culture, overruled his subordinate, Gordon Walker, in deciding to reopen bidding.

The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake City RDA purchases Rio Grande Hotel

By unanimous vote Tuesday, the Redevelopment Agency agreed to pay roughly $375,000 for the vacant Rio Grande Hotel at 428 W. 300 South in a move that will provide more downtown affordable housing.

The 49 weekly rental units will provide backup should, as expected, the city decide to close the rundown Regis and Cambridge hotels on State Street between 200 South and 300 South.

     Deseret News

Get Gephardt: Renter Pays The Price When Landlord Forecloses

How would you like to be evicted from your home—not because you didn't pay—but because someone else failed to pay the mortgage? But worse, the call came to  Get Gephardt after a Salt Lake family continued to be charged for rent as the bank threw them out. So, Bill Gephardt began investigating. KUTV

Renters feeling economic crunch

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a family in Utah must earn $29,459 a year or $14.16 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom, $736-a-month rental. That's 216 percent of the $6.55 minimum that average low-income earners make here. Deseret News

Merrill Lynch to Finance Resident Owned Communities

Merrill Lynch Community Development Company, LLC announced the opening of a $10mm Line of Credit with ROC USA™ Capital. ROC USA Capital makes commercial loans to the owners of manufactured or “mobile” homes who have formed a resident corporation to purchase their manufactured home community. Business Wire