Utah County Runs the Provo Warming Center After Community Action Closes: What to Know

Utah County is now running the winter warming center in Provo after the nonprofit that administered it, Community Action Services and Food Bank, announced a closure just before the season began. The center opened on schedule Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, and the county says it will stay open nightly through March 15. What happens to the nonprofit's other services is not settled, and new reporting this week shows why.

What changed

KSL reported on Nov. 1 that Community Action Services and Food Bank announced a temporary closure and that Utah County stepped in to take over administration of the warming center so people experiencing homelessness would still have a place to stay warm this winter. County Commissioner Skyler Beltran told KSL that "as of Friday, Community Action was our administrator for the warming center," until, he said, "the recent closure forced the county to step in."

The report did not explain why the nonprofit closed. Beltran called the broader closure "a big loss for the community" and said, "we're sure to rally and find a solution." He said the future of the food bank and other Community Action services was still being worked out: "We're working through that."

The county is overseeing operations for now and plans to move administration to another provider "in the coming days," KSL reported. We did not find the name of that provider in any report as of Friday, Nov. 6. We will update this page when the county names one.

The details people ask about

Location. The center sits at the Utah County Public Works warehouse at 2615 S. State St., between Provo and Springville, according to KSL's report on the opening. It previously rotated among that warehouse and two church buildings, and was consolidated to the single site last winter.

Hours. Eight p.m. to 8 a.m., every night through March 15, 2027. Our homeless resources guide described last season's check-in window as 8 to 11 p.m. with one-day bus passes handed out each morning. The reports on this season do not repeat those details, so call or check the county's posts before relying on them.

Who it serves. Adults 18 and older, as individuals or couples. KSL reported that families with children and people with disabilities are not served at the center and can get other county assistance, including hotel or motel vouchers. The vouchers are part of the county's emergency shelter system, which our guide describes in more detail.

What it does not say. None of the reports we read gave a bed count, a transportation plan or the intake steps. Last winter the center averaged about 59 people a night, according to Beltran.

The programs around it

KSL's report on the season opening described the center's partners as the Utah State Office of Homeless Services, Utah County, Provo, Community Action Services and Food Bank, United Way of Utah County, the Food & Care Coalition and Wasatch Behavioral Health. It also described a "Laying the Roots" program with courses and expanded services for qualified participants and a weekly resource night that connects guests with community organizations. That report was published before the closure and named Community Action as the operator, so which of those programs continue under county oversight is a question to ask the county.

Beltran said in the Nov. 1 report that the drop in homelessness the county has seen is something "we absolutely attribute to this warming center and this program." The opening report put the numbers this way: the county's latest Point-in-Time Count showed 45 fewer people experiencing homelessness, which the county said was more than 60% of the statewide decrease. Those are the county's figures, and a Point-in-Time Count is a one-night snapshot, so treat the comparison as a measure of the count, not of every person who needed help.

The nonprofit's finances

On Nov. 5, KUTV reported on Community Action's tax filings. According to the IRS Form 990 filings KUTV cited, the organization was in the black by nearly $1.6 million in 2021-22 and ran a deficit of more than $1.4 million in 2024-25, its latest filing. The line item covering salaries, other compensation and employee benefits rose from about $1.6 million to more than $2.7 million over the same period, KUTV reported, though pay for the center's principals "did not appear to appreciably increase."

KUTV also reported that the agency and two former principals went through a "separation" weeks before the closure. Board president Sofia Waterman, asked why, said, "I cannot say why." She also said the board has "done our best to oversee finances." Beltran told KUTV there was "mismanagement" but that it was not intentional. Utah Legislative Auditor General Kade Minchey said the scope of state auditors' review of homeless services could include the Provo agency. KUTV did not confirm that a review is under way.

The board was holding the latest in a series of special meetings Thursday evening to decide whether the closure is permanent or whether the agency continues. We did not find a report of the outcome. Our earlier coverage of the funding appeal, including the October fundraising push, is in Community Action's funding crisis.

How to help

• Volunteer overnight. The county is looking for people to cover three overnight shifts; volunteers commit to one shift, KSL reported. Our guide to shelter and housing volunteering covers what the work involves.
• Donate items. KSL reported the county set up an Amazon registry for supplies. Beltran told KUTV the county is fundraising on Amazon to offset its costs. Use the link from the county's own announcement, not one forwarded to you.
• Give food help. See food bank volunteering in Utah Valley.

If you need help tonight

• Adults, individuals or couples: the warming center, 2615 S. State St., from 8 p.m.
• Families with children or people with disabilities: KSL reported the county can arrange other assistance, including hotel or motel vouchers. Our homeless resources guide explains how the voucher route works.
• Meals: the Food & Care Coalition provides three meals a day, KSL reported. See food help in Utah County.
• Emergency: call 911 for a medical emergency or immediate danger.

What is still unknown

The new operator, the fate of the food pantry and housing programs, whether the closure is permanent and whether state auditors will review the agency are all unresolved. The county's statement that it will rally "to find a solution" is not a plan yet. For anyone who relied on Community Action's pantry, the practical gap is the main issue this winter. The nonprofit said earlier it served more than 24,000 people in a year, according to KSL.

How the week unfolded

• Oct. 24: Community Action said it needed $100,000 by the end of October to keep its doors open, as described in our earlier report on its funding appeal.
• Oct. 26: KSL reported the nonprofit was closing its Heber City pantry, laying off 15 employees and cutting Provo pantry hours by seven a week, and that it needed $1.5 million by the end of 2026 to stay open in 2027.
• Oct. 31 to Nov. 1: KSL reported the food bank would close its doors Nov. 1 until further notice. The county announced it would run the warming center, which opened that Sunday.
• Nov. 5: KUTV reported on the nonprofit's tax filings and the board's special meetings.

The sequence matters for one practical reason: the warming center did not miss its opening night. Whatever else is decided about Community Action, the overnight shelter for adults ran from the first night of the season.

Related on Provo.com

• Community Action's funding crisis
• Homeless resources in Utah County
• Food help in Utah County
• Shelter and housing volunteering
• Food bank volunteering in Utah Valley