Renting on Expired Visa - Utah (Sb81)

My wife and I got married in May. Her visa expired sometime the year before hand. Just after getting married, I was laid-off from my job and the money we were going to be saving for her change of status had to go to support us for a few months while I looked for work. I just got a job starting Dec 1st. Thankfully we made it through virtually unharmed (though my credit is in the tank), but it could have been worse.

In July, Utah enacted a law SB-81 which had to do with illegal immigration. From what I've been able to gather, it is designed to prevent illegals from renting or working without penalties to those who do.

My problem is this: I am a US Born Citizen (ancestors came hundreds of years ago, not that it makes any difference), since her visa has expired I'm having difficulty finding housing near my new job. Several places have told me that they cannot rent to me because she does not have current legal status. I find it hard to believe that because I'm a US born citizen, the only way for me to get housing would be to do so by basically leaving her on the side of the road and not having her listed as an occupant on the lease. This is a big problem if true because how am I supposed to live if I can't get housing simply because someone who is living at my residence who isn't the one responsible for paying the bills? Can someone help me out on this? We are legally married. Her passport is still valid.

Perhaps now that you're again employed you qualify to sponsor your wife for adjustment of her status based on marriage. If not, see if you can find somebody who is willing to cosponsor her.