Despite efforts to save about 125 jobs, most of which were held by people experiencing homelessness and other challenges, the longtime Utah social enterprise nonprofit Advantage Services is shutting down amid financial struggles.
“With heavy hearts, we announce that Advantage Services will be closing its doors and ceasing all services” effective Saturday, the nonprofit’s CEO Rob Ferris wrote in an email to customers and other community partners sent Thursday.
He told Utah News Dispatch he and his team were in “shock” after receiving an email from the state Office of Homeless Services on Thursday that sank their last hope for a solution to save the social enterprise that’s existed for more than 34 years or the jobs it provides to vulnerable people.
“We didn’t think that we were too big to fail, but we thought we were too important to let go,” he said. “The services that we provide are vital to the unsheltered community, to our community partners.”…