CCS Northern Utah ends housing assistance program

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OGDEN — Catholic Community Services Northern Utah disbanded its homeless prevention and rental assistance program in March due to its own economic struggles.

This will affect residents in the greater Cache County area.

"As an agency, we are struggling financially right now," said Marcie Valdez, CCS Northern Utah. "We’ve seen a huge decrease in financial donations from businesses and individuals and in government grants."

The housing program had been strong for the past five years, but a decrease in federal funding last year led to a reduction in CCS services, and the housing program staff was cut from five to two, Valdez said.

"Ending the program was a difficult decision to make because every day we have about 20 people come in looking for housing assistance, and there isn’t any place to send them," she said. "The non-profit community in northern Utah is working together to identify another agency who might be able to help them."

Jose Lazaro, CCS development and marketing director, said the rent-assistance program was running at an annual deficit of $115,000 and CCS’ Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank in Ogden was running at an $175,000 annual deficit, "which would need to be made up mostly through fundraisers," he said.

CCS’ Dream Builder’s Breakfast, set for May 2, is one way organizers hope to bring in funds.

The breakfast was typically held every other year, but was changed to take place yearly to help increase donations.

"Looking at the deficit, we felt we couldn’t raise that much money, so we are focusing on raising money to support the food pantry," said Valdez. "We continue to serve more than 2,300 families each month. Approximately 90 percent of the funds we raise come from the community and that money goes into our client programs; only 7 percent goes into administrative support."

The Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank distributes over 200,000 pounds of food each month, Valdez said. "We have to pay utility expenses, transportation costs in picking up groceries at eight different stores, plus the maintenance of the vehicles.

"People mostly think about donating food to our pantry and that food goes to families in need, but they might not realize what it costs to run a food pantry and the work that goes into collecting, sorting, storing and distributing the food," she said. "We need people to continue to donate food, but also to consider making a cash donation to support the work that is involved in giving away the food."

Although CCS’ Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank receives 40 percent of its food from the Utah Food Bank, the two are separate entities.

"We are not funded by them," Valdez said. "We rely on the community for food and money to do what we do."

Donations can be made to the Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank online at ccsutah.org, by calling 801-394-5944, or by mail at 2504 F Avenue, Ogden UT 84401.