OGDEN, Utah — As the federal government shutdown continues with no clear end in sight, nonprofit organizations across Utah and the nation are grappling with halted funding, leaving critical community programs at risk.
Among the hardest hit is Youth Futures, a nonprofit that operates three shelters for homeless and at-risk teens across Ogden and southern Utah. The organization provides emergency housing, meals, case management, and support services to help youth reconnect with family or transition to stable housing.
Now, with federal grants suspended, Youth Futures is struggling to sustain operations.
“We’re providing not just a place to sleep, but meals, case management, and helping them get back on their feet — reunified with family if that’s possible,” said Kristen Mitchell, founder and executive director of Youth Futures.
Mitchell explained that the organization has two major grants currently pending and that even previously approved funding has been frozen due to the shutdown. “Everybody’s gone,” she said. “There’s no one to talk to about it because everything’s closed.”
The financial gap is already putting immense pressure on staff and resources. Youth Futures serves about 120 teens at any given time, and Mitchell warns that without funding, essential services could be interrupted. “These kids would be out on the street with no services if we weren’t able to manage to get through this,” she said. “We need the government to open back up.”
The impact extends far beyond Utah. Across the country, thousands of nonprofits that depend on federal funding are now at risk. Sarah Saadian, vice president of policy and campaigns for the National Council of Nonprofits, said the situation is unprecedented.
“You can’t just turn the light switch back on and reopen those organizations,” Saadian explained. “That infrastructure is lost. It means many Americans will no longer access the resources they were relying on.”
Some nonprofits have begun taking out loans or using emergency reserves to keep programs running, but experts warn the ripple effects will continue long after funding resumes. “Even after Congress restores the money, the damage to community trust and service continuity will take time to repair,” Saadian added.
For now, Mitchell and other nonprofit leaders are turning to the community for help. Donations and local partnerships could provide a temporary lifeline until federal support resumes.
Saadian encouraged citizens to not only donate but also contact their congressional representatives to advocate for reopening the government and restoring funding pipelines for vital social programs.
