Local care network reports rising homelessness and heavy demand on pantry and shelter services

James Jettin, executive director of Iron County Care and Share, told the Cedar City Council on Oct. 15 that this year the nonprofit has distributed more than 312,000 pounds of food and nearly 10,000 pounds of non‑food items including hygiene supplies and blankets. "So far, we've distributed, 312,000, plus pounds of food to the community," Jettin said during his presentation.

Jettin gave the council a detailed look at service levels and needs. Year to date the agency reported roughly 3,500 service interactions including about 3,500 meals and almost 400 showers; the shelter recorded 286 people checking in this year, a roughly 24% increase compared with 2023. He said the organization has provided about 3,500 direct services and nearly 3,500 food‑related distributions, and that the number of camper‑style food boxes — intended for people without storage or cooking access — rose about 25%.

The presentation flagged changes in client health needs. Jettin said the share of shelter clients reporting chronic health conditions rose from 36% in 2024 to 43% in 2025, and that reported mental‑health disorders rose from about 40% to 57% year to date. "We're seeing a lot more seniors," he said, noting about one in four shelter clients is older than 55 and many have disabling conditions, which complicates housing placements.

Jettin described how the city’s mitigation funding has been used: to supplement shelter security and staffing for drop‑in services and to support a community case manager and coordinated entry for homeless response. He reported that hiring private security has reduced calls for law‑enforcement assistance by roughly 40% and highlighted a recent week when coordinated entry helped house five people and a family.

Council members pressed Jettin on canceled programming (a Halloween event postponed for lack of funding and staff) and on a planned tiny‑home project on about 1.5 acres behind the shelter. Jettin said the tiny‑home plan is progressing and that some funding appears likely to support a first phase.

Jettin also warned that partner organizations face funding instability: he said Youth Futures currently has about $1,000,000 in federal funding that is frozen, increasing the community’s vulnerability if that partner’s programs are cut. He urged continued state legislative support for the shelter cities mitigation funding that helps the region preserve flexible local services.

Next steps: Jettin invited council members and the public to shelter tours and said the local homeless council meets monthly; the next municipal service‑provider coordination meeting on mitigation funding is scheduled for Oct. 27 at 4 p.m.

The council did not take formal action on the presentation; members thanked Jettin and moved on to other agenda items.