New Utah Homeless Shelter Offers Tiered Care Options

Facility aims to address the needs of diverse homeless population with mental illness and substance abuse issues.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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A new homeless shelter being built in Utah will have various tiers of care, creating a unique plan to meet the needs of each person they serve. The facility, which will serve up to 1,300 people, is being designed to supplement the state hospital for recovery care, provide 18- to 24-month residential substance abuse treatment, and offer long-term assisted living for those with chronic mental illness. The goal is to address the 'revolving door' problem many homeless individuals with mental health issues face, where they cycle between hospitals, jails, and living on the streets.

Why it matters

This new facility aims to solve the problem of the lack of long-term care options for homeless individuals with serious mental illness in Utah and across the country. Many end up stuck in a 'revolving door' of short hospital stays, incarceration, and living on the streets due to the shortage of appropriate treatment resources. The tiered approach of this new shelter is designed to provide the right level of care for each person's needs.

The details

The new Utah homeless shelter is being built to serve up to 1,300 people and will offer several tiers of care. Some portions will be designed to supplement the state hospital for recovery care, while others will provide 18- to 24-month residential substance abuse treatment, including for those with co-occurring mental illness. The facility will also have long-term assisted living options for those with chronic mental illness who need more indefinite care. The goal is to address the diverse needs of the homeless population and avoid the 'revolving door' many experience between hospitals, jails, and living on the streets due to a lack of appropriate treatment resources.

  • The new Utah homeless shelter is currently under construction and is expected to open within the next two years.
  • In July 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to move those living in homeless encampments around the U.S. into treatment facilities with mental health and substance use services.

The players

Bethany Yeiser

A former homeless individual who lived on the streets of Los Angeles for 13 months in 2006-2007 while suffering from untreated schizophrenia. She is passionate about the new Utah facility and hopes it will help prevent others from experiencing the 'revolving door' of homelessness, hospitalization, and incarceration that she faced.

Devon Kurtz

An influential proponent of the new Utah facility and a member of the Cicero Institute, an organization advocating for the tiered care approach to address the diverse needs of the homeless population with mental illness and substance abuse issues.

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What they’re saying

“Why was I allowed to sleep outside in the first place? Why was this allowed to continue for over a year? Didn't someone realize that I had become wholly incapable of caring for myself?”

— Bethany Yeiser (Psychology Today)

“It is common in the United States to release psychiatric patients from hospitals although they are not ready for discharge.”

— Bethany Yeiser (Psychology Today)

What’s next

Over the next two years, the new Utah homeless shelter will be closely watched to see if the leaders are able to follow through on their commitments to provide the standard of care, recovery options, and long-term support that the diverse homeless population with mental illness and substance abuse issues requires.

The takeaway

This new facility in Utah represents a unique and comprehensive approach to addressing the complex needs of the homeless population, particularly those struggling with mental illness and substance abuse. By offering a range of tiered care options, the shelter aims to break the 'revolving door' cycle that many homeless individuals face, providing them with the appropriate level of support and treatment to help them achieve long-term recovery and stability.