Salt Lake City – As the 2026 Point-in-Time Count shows a 17% jump in family homelessness across Salt Lake County, the nonprofit Family Promise of Salt Lake is widening its safety‑net for parents and children without permanent housing.
Rising need drives expanded services
The latest count recorded more than 200 families – 664 individuals – experiencing some form of homelessness, an increase of 97 people since 2024. “Family homelessness is one of the fastest rising segments of the homeless population,” said Brian Diggs, the organization’s executive director and a reverend.
Diggs explained that many of the families served do not fit the stereotypical image of a lone individual on a street corner. “You’ve got families doubled up with friends or parents. You’ve got families living in cars, so really it’s not the traditional person you see on the side of the street, although sometimes you do,” he said.
What Family Promise provides
The nonprofit operates an emergency shelter that can house four families simultaneously, plus five transitional‑housing units for families moving toward permanent homes. At any given time the shelter serves meals to about 20 families each day, and the organization reports providing roughly 6,000 meals annually thanks to volunteers and donated home‑cooked food from across the valley.
When families secure stable housing, Diggs described the moment as a “huge celebration” for staff and volunteers alike. “It’s a great thing. It really is. We work really hard to help our families do that, and when they do, it’s a huge celebration,” he said.
Economic pressures behind the surge
Diggs linked the uptick in family homelessness to broader economic stress. “As we see inflation on the rise and we see families struggling more and more, living paycheck to paycheck, you miss one paycheck and you could find yourself out on the streets. So we’re kind of a safety net for these families,” he explained.
The organization relies heavily on community support. Volunteers from churches, schools, and civic groups deliver home‑cooked meals, while local businesses contribute donations that keep the shelter operating.
Community recognition and support
In recognition of its impact, Family Promise of Salt Lake was named this month’s Smith’s Zero Hunger Hero. During a visit by Tina Murray of Smith’s, the nonprofit received a surprise $1,000 check to help continue its mission of feeding Utah’s most vulnerable residents.
Donors can contribute directly through the organization’s website, which provides details on how to support shelter operations, meal programs, and transitional housing.
Looking ahead
With family homelessness on an upward trajectory, Diggs emphasized the need for continued community involvement and public‑policy attention to address the root causes of housing insecurity. “We need to keep advocating for affordable housing, job opportunities, and a stronger safety net for families,” he said.
Family Promise of Salt Lake remains a critical lifeline for families navigating the challenges of homelessness, offering not only a roof and a meal but also hope for a stable future.
Original reporting: FOX 13 KSTU (Salt Lake County) — read the source article.
