Salt Lake City — Envision Utah, in conjunction with Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy, has released an in-depth report on Utahns’ perceptions of the state’s housing situation. Conducted in Q4 of 2024, the research sheds light on how Utahns think about the state’s housing shortage. This research included a survey of approximately 600 Utah adults and a large multi-day online focus group of 36 participants representing a variety of different backgrounds. Each participant spent 20–40 minutes answering a series of questions on housing.

Key Findings The report reveals that most Utahns agree there is a housing problem and that we must build more homes to increase supply and drive down prices. Notable findings include:

  • High public concern. Most Utahns (69%) believe Utah is “in a major housing crisis” or “facing serious housing challenges.” Only 15% see the situation as “fine” or “great.”
  • There is a lack of consensus on the cause of the housing crisis. Throughout the report’s creation, Utahns could not agree on a primary cause for the rising cost of housing. On a scale of impact, respondents cited interest rates (67%), construction costs (58%), developer or landlord greed (57%), too many people moving to Utah (53%), or insufficient housing supply (35%) among a list of 15 reasons – highlighting a lack of consensus on the core economic drivers of the crisis. 
  • Utahns with low incomes are a top priority. They worry most about low-income individuals and families, followed by first-time homebuyers and young families. 
  • Access to opportunity matters most. Utahns’ top housing priority is ensuring low-income families can afford to live in neighborhoods with good schools and economic opportunities. They also see affordable housing as a key to breaking the cycle of poverty. 55% of Utahns prioritize ensuring community workers such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers have affordable housing in the communities they serve. 
  • Need for more supply. A majority agree (69%) that “we need to build more homes and increase the overall number and availability of homes and apartments in the state” to overcome the current supply shortage, estimated at around 153,000 by 2030. They agree that Utah is growing because it’s an attractive place to live with a strong economy and that the best way to manage growth is to build sufficient housing so that housing stays more affordable.
  • Need to address quality of life when adding housing. The most significant concerns about building more housing relate to traffic congestion, overcrowding in public services, and crime.

Raising Awareness to Help Solve the Housing Affordability Crisis No singular entity is currently leading the charge on the housing crisis in Utah. Envision Utah and the Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy (UWHA) stand in a unique position to lead public education efforts. The UWHA-launched Demand More Supply campaign has generated thousands of responses and subsequent opportunities to engage with the public. Through the efforts of stakeholders, we aim to educate the public and unite them around the primary reason why housing costs have increased so dramatically in Utah: We need more housing.

Quotes from Ari Bruening, President and CEO of Envision Utah “Residents point to housing as their greatest worry about life in Utah. Most Utahns realize this is one problem we can build our way out of–they just want us to do it in a well-planned way that doesn’t threaten other aspects of our quality of life.”

Quote from Steve Waldrip, Senior Advisor For Housing Strategy to Governor Cox and Executive Board Member of Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy “To ensure that the American Dream stays alive and well in Utah, we must add housing supply to the market. That’s why our campaign is focused on raising awareness of the core problem of high home prices - not enough supply.”

About Envision Utah Envision Utah is a nationally recognized organization that works with stakeholders and the public to address growth-related challenges in ways that strengthen communities, support economic growth, and preserve Utah’s unique quality of life.

About Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy Utah Workforce Housing Advocacy focuses on increasing affordable housing options for middle-income earners, including essential workers who play a critical role in our communities.

About Demand More Supply Demand More Supply is a public awareness campaign highlighting the connection between housing shortages and rising costs and advocates for solutions to increase housing supply across Utah.