But Sargent has had his share of financial problems. Now he works seasonally for the U.S. Forest Service, doing everything from mowing lawns to assisting fire crews. He also works at the Interagency Fire Center. The Regis is home while he gets back on his feet financially. "When things get better, I'll move," he said.

Building manager Frank Richards, who also lives on the property, said many of the residents have few options. "We have a lot of people that can't relocate," he said.

One resident, Michael Whiteman, said he lives at the Regis because of a criminal background that he worries would disqualify him for other housing.

Richards said day laborers who live in the SROs can have streaks of regular work, followed by months of scarcity. When they fall behind, SRO managers allow them to pay what they can, when they can, knowing they will get caught up when the employment picture is better.

"No apartment would do that for them," Richards said.

Residents say some of their neighbors could afford to live somewhere else, but they like where they are, and they feel safe. They say they feel part of a community.

"Nobody ever goes hungry here," Sargent said.

What's next?

Advocates for low-income housing are divided over whether the State Street SROs should stay.

Rosemary Kappes, executive director of the Salt Lake City Housing Authority, said the buildings' time has passed.

"Their condition is horrendous," she said. "A building's time and life ebbs and flows."

Funk, at the Crossroads Urban Center, believes that the SROs need to stay. He worries the SROs are being disregarded because some city officials "think they're all crooks and shabby people" who live there.

He blamed the buildings' disrepair on haphazard management by the RDA and said they can be fixed up by taking it a piece at a time — new plumbing this year, new electrical wiring the next.

In its discussions of selling low-income hotel housing on State Street, the City Council is trying to find ways to make sure similar housing remains available in the city, but some housing advocates say it won't be enough.

Earlier this month, the council voted to contribute up to $3 million in RDA money to help The Road Home buy and renovate the Holiday Inn at 999 S. Main with the help of a $7 million donation from the LDS Church.

That project will include housing for people transitioning out of homelessness, as well as some SRO units. The project also will have housing for families with children, so there will be some minimal background checks to keep child-sex offenders out.

RDA staff members say they know of only three residents of the State Street SROs who would not qualify to live at the Holiday Inn.