SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Housing officials say there are fewer people dealing with chronic homelessness in Utah compared with a year earlier.
Lt. Gov. Greg Bell says Monday the 9 percent drop in chronic homelessness is the seventh year in a row the number had dropped.
It is estimated there are about 500 people considered to be chronically homeless, which means they have been homeless for more than year or multiple times in the past five years.
Overall, the state's homeless population increased by about 13 percent to an estimated 16,500 people.
Division of Housing and Community Development Director Gordon Walker says the decrease in chronic homeless means there are more beds available in temporary shelters.
Walker says the count has been conducted since 2004 and is done annually on the same night.