Reentry housing pilot seeks $250,000 to certify renters, engage landlords and lower recidivism

Representatives of Utah State University and the Utah Housing Coalition presented a $250,000 request to develop and pilot a statewide housing‑stability program aimed at justice‑involved people, veterans and individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

Representative Ballard framed the proposal as prevention and reentry work designed to reduce the cycle between incarceration and homelessness. Dr. Jamie Walters (USU) and Zoe Newman (Utah Housing Coalition) described a three‑part approach: train human‑service professionals in housing‑stability and debt navigation; deliver a renter‑readiness certificate that teaches responsibilities and readiness to landlords; and start a small landlord mitigation fund to reduce perceived landlord risk.

USU and coalition presenters cited local data to justify the approach: roughly 3,000 people leave prison annually in Utah and nearly half of Utah renters are cost‑burdened. "It costs roughly $55,000 a year to have someone in prison," a presenter said, adding that helping four people avoid recidivism would justify the pilot cost.

The pilot would build on existing toolkits and landlord networks and aims to scale to hundreds of participants if successful. Representative Ballard emphasized accountability and partnership with landlords, banks and community agencies.

What happens next: the subcommittee heard questions on implementation and outreach; the RFA will be considered alongside other appropriation decisions this session.