SALT LAKE CITY — Homelessness in Utah increased year-to-year by a startling 18 percent, new data showed on Wednesday, with the numbers spurred on by a rise among children and people over 64.

In the Point-in-Time Count featured in the annual report from the Utah Office of Homeless Services, nearly 4,600 people in the state were found to be experiencing homelessness on a single night.

The Point-in-Time Count is carried out annually at the end of January.

In total, the report showed that the state's homelessness rate increased from 11 per 10,000 people to 13, although the report noted that Utah's number is still below the national rate recorded in 2024, which was 23 per 10,000 people.

"Utah’s booming economy and fast-growing population have outpaced the availability of affordable housing

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