Amy Stanley is a headstrong mother of three who grew up poor but refuses to die that way. Years ago, the CPA severed all family ties in Michigan and headed for Las Vegas, hoping to improve her job prospects. Now she's on the run, fleeing an abusive boyfriend.

Aside from their status as single moms, these two women have little in common and probably would not be friends.

But Church and Stanley may be the new face of homelessness.

They are among 102 families to take up residence this winter at the Road Home in Salt Lake City - a 62 percent spike over last year, matched only by the winter preceding the Olympics.

Staff members at the Road Home, the state's largest shelter, are at a loss to explain the increase, especially given Utah's reportedly red-hot job market. The charity housed fewer single men this season. Ranks of single transient women grew only slightly.

"We're not seeing any trends," said associate shelter director Michelle Flynn. "The families are larger and using up more nights. Most are local two- and single-parent families who, for whatever reason, have just fallen on hard times."

Homelessness for some families is precipitated by an unexpected illness and high medical bills. For others, it's a job loss. Domestic violence and untreated drug addictions and mental illness also play a role.

But poverty and the lack of affordable housing are two growing trends, say low-income advocates.

"We may be creating more jobs, but for lower pay," said Tim Funk, an advocate at Crossroads Urban Center, the state's busiest food pantry.

Meanwhile, the federal government is shrinking rent-assistance programs, which helps move families out of shelters and into transitional housing. Funk said Utah's housing authorities lost 895 Section 8 rent vouchers to federal cuts last year, a 9 percent hit. More cuts are pending under President Bush's proposed 2007 budget.

Because of their incomes, both Church and Stanley are entitled to rent assistance. But they are stuck on waiting lists, and staff members at the Road Home are pressed for time. The deadline for closing the shelter's winter overflow location in Midvale is April 1.

"We have some wiggle room. We'll keep that location open longer if we have to. But we're definitely struggling," said Flynn.

Church and Stanley don't mind waiting, but yearn for more stable situations.

Stanley said she will use the time to sock away money. She works nights at a call center while Church watches her children.

"I have security and support here," she said.

Church is using her "time-out" at the shelter to kick a drug habit.

Financial and family pressures are what she says first drove her to try methamphetamine. For a while, it helped her shed pounds and keep up with a demanding work schedule and energetic 2-year-old.

But a decade of "chasing the high" eventually robbed her of the energy to care for her children, work as an auto-glass repair shop manager and, most recently, to maintain her home and dignity.

"We were sleeping on couches, shacking up with drug dealers or living in the car until my 12-year-old begged me to take us to a shelter," said Church. "I just want a chance to rebuild my life and spend more time with my kids. I want to go bowling, play darts and go to the park with my kids, stuff that I thought was lame when I was high."

kstewart@sltrib.com

How you can help:

More than a third of the Road Home's budget comes from private donations. To donate, call 359-4142.