The report summarizes what we heard and learned from the hundreds of hours of community engagement and input as well as the cutting edge data analysis by the Urban Displacement Project on displacement risks in Salt Lake City and the region. This critical information helps us to understand, fully, the problem we are striving to solve, because it’s hard to solve a problem if you don’t agree on what the problem is.
The results of Phase One are a call to action, documenting the extent of displacement in the city and region as well as the impacts on people’s lives and our community. Here are a few of the key findings:
Displacement in Salt Lake City is significant and getting worse. It is an issue of high concern in the community; nearly everyone reported directly experiencing its impacts in their lives and neighborhoods.
There are no “more affordable” neighborhoods in Salt Lake City where lower income families can move once displaced. This is a particularly striking finding; something that UDP has not seen before in their work around the country.
Salt Lake City is growing and there are not enough housing units at every price level, and a significant lack of affordable units for low-income families. There is a consensus view in the community that creating more affordable housing should be a high priority while also protecting renters from being displaced.
Almost half of Salt Lake City’s renter households are rent burdened, spending over 30 percent of their income on housing, making them highly vulnerable when rents increase.
Displacement affects more than half of White households in Salt Lake City and disproportionately affects households of color.
The patterns of displacement reflect historic patterns of discrimination and segregation, with many areas experiencing high displacement risk being the same as areas that were redlined in the past.
In addition to reading the Phase One Summary Report, dig into these resources to learn more and explore the data.
Study UDP’s Displacement Analysis for Salt Lake City
It includes maps showing displacement risk around the city and region.
Download the Community Survey Data Viewer
See how responses varied by income, Council District and more.
Dig into the Community Input Notes
Review the themes and key takeaways from the interviews, focus groups, and youth workshops.
Mike Akerlow, Community Development Corporation of Utah
Rosa Bandeirinha, Neighborhood House
Downy Bowles, The Road Home
Randy Chappell, Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness
Cindy Cromer, Property Owner / Community Advocate
Mayra Cedano, Communidas Unidas
Marcus Degan, People’s Legal Aid
Jakey Siolo and Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou, PIK2AR
Maria Garciaz, Neighborworks Salt Lake
Vinny Johnson, Industry/Qfactor
Jared Martinez, University Neighborhood Partners
Sahil Oberoi, Utah Community Action
Chris Parker, Giv Development
Meredith Vernick, The Road Home
Kelly Roemer, Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services
Tara Rollins, Utah Housing Coalition
Maurice Smith, Urban Indian Center of SLC
Karlee Stauffer, Disability Law Center
Bill Tibbitts, Crossroads Urban Center
Megan Townsend, Wasatch Front Regional Council
Sincere thanks for their participation, passion, and guidance!
In late 2021, we had conversations with 15 Salt Lake City residents, advocates, and housing experts to help us understand the lay-of-the-land on issues affecting gentrification and displacement in SLC. Their input helped shape our engagement strategy and overall approach to this work. Here is our summary of what we heard.
