A system rethought: New director targets root causes of homelessness and incarceration

When Anndrea Wild reflects on her career path, she describes a steady shift from evaluating public systems to helping build them. That transition now places her at the center of Salt Lake County’s efforts to address two of its most complex and intertwined challenges: homelessness and criminal justice reform.

“I’m Anndrea Wild, and my career has focused on understanding and improving how public systems serve people,” she said.

Wild, who recently stepped into her role as Director of the Office of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform under Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, brings experience from both policy analysis and direct program leadership. She began as a Legislative Performance Auditor, reviewing how state programs function in practice, before moving into a more hands-on role with the Utah Department of Corrections as Programming Director.

“That experience gave me a deep appreciation for both the strengths of our systems and the gaps that can leave individuals and communities without the support they need,” she said.

In her current position, Wild’s focus is on coordination—bringing together agencies, service providers and policymakers to address issues that often overlap but are traditionally handled separately.

“For me, this role is a meaningful opportunity to help drive real, lasting change for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, involved in the justice system, or both,” she said.

At the core of the office’s mission is collaboration. Wild oversees efforts that connect key groups such as the Criminal Justice Advisory Council and the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness. The goal, she said, is to align strategies, share data and ensure resources are used effectively.

“Our mission is to advance effective, data-driven criminal justice and homelessness solutions through strong partnerships, innovation and a focus on outcomes,” Wild said.

A major factor shaping that work is housing availability. According to data cited by the office, Utah faces a significant shortage of deeply affordable housing, with only three units available for every 100 households in need. In Salt Lake County alone, the deficit is estimated at 35,000 units.

“Housing is a foundational priority in this work,” Wild said. “We know that stable housing is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes.”

Wild emphasized that homelessness and criminal justice involvement often stem from shared underlying issues, including mental health conditions, substance use and housing instability. Those connections are increasingly visible in local data.

“Historically, about a quarter of our Salt Lake County jail population was homeless. Over the last few years, it has grown to nearly one-third,” she said.

Her office’s approach centers on addressing those root causes while maintaining accountability and public safety. That includes expanding diversion programs, increasing access to behavioral health services and ensuring individuals leaving incarceration have stable housing and support.

“It’s important to be clear: incarceration plays a critical role in holding individuals accountable and protecting public safety,” Wild said. “For many others…a system response centered primarily on incarceration is not the most effective path forward.”

One of the most immediate challenges Wild identified upon taking the role is the lack of coordination in crisis response systems. Currently, multiple agencies respond to mental health and substance use crises, which can result in inconsistent care and unnecessary reliance on law enforcement.

“Too often, law enforcement is the default first responder, even when a behavioral health response is more appropriate,” she said.

To address that, the county has launched a crisis response task force and is working to improve how emergency calls are routed, with the goal of directing individuals to appropriate treatment rather than jail or emergency departments.

Wild also highlighted prevention—particularly among youth—as a key priority. Expanded diversion programs, mentorship opportunities and school partnerships are part of a broader strategy to intervene early and reduce long-term system involvement.

“We know that early intervention can change the trajectory of a young person’s life,” she said.

Looking ahead, Wild said her first year will focus on building a more connected system that better matches individuals with the care they need.

“Ultimately, long-term impact comes from building a system that is both effective and humane,” she said.

For Wild, the work is rooted in a simple but complex goal: creating systems that not only respond to crises but prevent them—while supporting both individuals and the broader community.