Utah's Controversial Plan for a 'Homeless Campus.' Plus, the Cafe of the Future? episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 6, 2026 · 32 MIN

Utah's Controversial Plan for a 'Homeless Campus.' Plus, the Cafe of the Future?

from Your City Could Be Better · host City Cast

With homelessness on the rise in Utah, the state is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers. Mentioned on the show: Interrogating Controversial Homeless Policy Proposals (City Cast Salt Lake) Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

With homelessness on the rise in Utah, the state is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers. Mentioned on the show: Interrogating Controversial Homeless Policy Proposals (City Cast Salt Lake) Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

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Utah's Controversial Plan for a 'Homeless Campus.' Plus, the Cafe of the Future?

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This episode was published on March 6, 2026.

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With homelessness on the rise in Utah, the state is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily...

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