Youth Futures Utah’s newest shelter home for teens holds ribbon-cutting in Cedar City

CEDAR CITY — Youth Futures, a nonprofit organization that serves teens who are experiencing homelessness, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for its Cedar City facility on Friday afternoon.

Ribbon-cutting and open house for Youth Futures Utah’s newest shelter home for teens, Cedar City, Utah, May 20, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

As previously reported in Cedar City News, the 12-bed shelter home, located on 133 S. 100 West, has been remodeled from a former bed-and-breakfast residence. The facility is designed to provide temporary shelter for children ages 12-17, with some 18-year-olds also provisionally accepted.

Speaking to reporters shortly after she cut the ceremonial ribbon on Friday, Youth Futures executive director Kristen Mitchell explained how the facility helps and supports at-risk children.

“So these kids come from any background that is difficult,” she said. “They are extremely vulnerable. They fall into trafficking and really risky behaviors if they have to find their way on the street. So we want to bring a safe place for them to come.”

Mitchell said that currently, there are approximately 300 schoolchildren living in Iron County that have been identified by the school district as unaccompanied minors who are in need of shelter services.

“Any kiddo who is in need can come to our door, they can knock on our door 24/7,” Mitchell added. “We serve kids ages 12 to 18, so anyone who falls within that age range is welcome to show up here. And whatever situation they’re in, we can help them work through it.”

Ribbon-cutting and open house for Youth Futures Utah’s newest shelter home for teens, Cedar City, Utah, May 20, 2022 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

The Cedar City facility is Youth Futures Utah’s third location, Mitchell added. She and Scott Catuccio founded the organization in Ogden in 2015 and established its first shelter home there. Then, in 2018, they opened their second location in St. George.

Mitchell said the Youth Futures homes are not meant for long-term stays.

“It’s a temporary shelter, so we’re looking to help reunify them with their families, No. 1, or help them find stable independent housing,” she said. “Sometimes they go into group homes, sometimes in foster care, so there’s any number of ways that we can take care of in-house guests, but the No. 1 goal is to get them back home.”

Although the Cedar City shelter home opened its doors for public open house tours on Friday, it’s still not quite ready to accept its first teenage guests.

“We are just finishing with the fire, safety and health department inspections,” Mitchell explained. “As soon as they issue us our license, we’ll be ready to put heads on beds.”

For information about the organization or to make a monetary contribution, visit the Youth Futures Utah website or call 801-528-1214.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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