The South Salt Lake Coalition was organized in 2003 as a program of the Utah Federation for Youth (UFY).  Several key community leaders understood a need for a community level approach to preventing substance abuse and violence in South Salt Lake. 

In 2004, under the direction of UFY, the Coalition sought for and received a Drug Free Communities grant from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration.  This five year grant would allow the Coalition to get on the ground in SSL by instituting programs and policies and supporting the wonderful work of agencies and organizations already helping the community.

In the summer of 2009, the Coalition relocated its offices to Main Street in South Salt Lake across the street from the SSL PD Headquarters.  In the September of 2009, the Coalition was awarded another five years of funding from the Drug Free Communities Support Program.