Written & Reviewed by
Last updated: 6 September 2026
Utah seniors often need help that does not fit neatly into SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, housing programs, or tax relief. This guide highlights 20 active nonprofit and community organizations that may help with food, legal problems, caregiving, home repairs, homelessness, medical equipment, disability support, health care, and work.
Bottom Line
Start with the organization that matches your most urgent need and your county. If it cannot help, ask for a referral instead of starting over. For broad local referrals, call 211. For state benefit programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, HEAT, and property-tax relief, use our Utah benefits guide.
Urgent Help
Call 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency. If you need shelter, food, rent help, or another urgent local service, call 211. If homelessness is the main problem, our Utah emergency guide explains what to do first.
Start Here
- Name the problem. Food, housing, legal help, caregiving, equipment, or another need?
- Check the service area. Several Utah nonprofits serve only certain counties.
- Call before traveling. Hours, funding, waitlists, eligibility, and appointment rules can change.
| Need | Strong first options | GFS backup guide |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Utah Food Bank, Tabitha’s Way, Crossroads | Utah benefits |
| Legal problem | Utah Legal Services | Medicare Savings |
| Home repair | Habitat Utah County | Utah home repair |
| Caregiver support | Jewish Family Service, Neighborhood House | Utah caregiver pay |
| Housing | Utah Community Action, The Road Home | Utah housing help |
| Dental or vision | Seager Memorial Clinic | Utah dental help |
How These Resources Were Selected
GFS selected these organizations independently for practical usefulness to older adults, caregivers, and low-income households. None paid for placement. We favored organizations with clear current services, a useful Utah service area, a direct application or contact route, and help that fills gaps left by government programs. This is a curated list, not a ranking of every nonprofit in Utah.
Food and Basic Needs
1. Food
Utah Food Bank
Best for: Best statewide food starting point for low-income seniors.
What they help with: Food pantries, mobile food distributions, and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for older adults.
Service area: Statewide
Eligibility: CSFP is for Utah residents age 60 or older who meet the current income rule. Capacity can be limited and a waitlist may be used.
Cost: CSFP food boxes are free.
Phone: 801-978-2452
How to start: Use the CSFP page to apply online or find the right food-help route.
6. Food and housing
Community Action Services and Food Bank
Best for: Strong regional safety-net organization for food and housing problems.
What they help with: Food pantries, housing help, case management, rent or utility help when funding is available, financial counseling, and referrals.
Service area: Utah, Wasatch, and Summit counties
Eligibility: Rules vary by program and available funding.
Cost: Most direct assistance programs are free for eligible households.
Phone: 801-373-8200
How to start: Call the Provo office or use the official site to choose the service that fits your need.
7. Food and basic needs
Catholic Community Services of Utah
Best for: Especially useful for seniors in Weber and nearby northern Utah communities.
What they help with: Food assistance, meals, basic-needs help, homebound food delivery, and community resource connections.
Service area: Ogden and Salt Lake programs
Eligibility: The Joyce Hansen Hall Food Bank uses an income rule, and Friday pantry hours are reserved for seniors age 60 or older and people with disabilities.
Cost: Food assistance is free for eligible clients.
Phone: 801-394-5944
How to start: For Northern Utah food help, contact the Ogden food bank and ask about current registration and hours.
8. Emergency basics
Crossroads Urban Center
Best for: Very useful when a senior needs food or basic necessities quickly.
What they help with: Emergency food, clothing vouchers, hygiene supplies, transit day passes, prescription assistance, gasoline vouchers, and some utility shutoff-prevention help.
Service area: Salt Lake City
Eligibility: Help is need-based and depends on current pantry resources.
Cost: Emergency pantry assistance is free.
Phone: 801-364-7765
How to start: Call or visit the Downtown Food Pantry at 347 South 400 East during current pantry hours.
9. Food
Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry
Best for: Excellent local food option for Utah County seniors.
What they help with: Temporary food assistance through local pantries in Spanish Fork, Pleasant Grove, and Saratoga Springs.
Service area: Utah County
Eligibility: The pantries primarily serve communities in North and South Utah County. Check the location serving your city before visiting.
Cost: Food assistance is free.
Phone: See location page
How to start: Use the official Get Food page to choose the pantry serving your community and check current hours.
Legal, Caregiving, and Dementia
2. Legal aid
Utah Legal Services
Best for: Best for denials, overpayments, housing disputes, and other civil legal problems.
What they help with: Civil legal help with public benefits, Social Security, Medicare problems, housing and nursing-home issues, consumer matters, and limited estate-planning work.
Service area: Statewide
Eligibility: Utah Legal Services may help seniors age 60 or older and other low-income Utah residents depending on the legal problem and available resources.
Cost: Legal help is generally free for eligible clients.
Phone: 801-328-8891
How to start: Apply through the official site or call and explain the legal problem, deadline, and any notice you received.
3. Caregiving
Jewish Family Service of Utah
Best for: Strong choice for aging-in-place planning and caregiver support.
What they help with: Older-adult care coordination, in-home assessments, dementia support, caregiver groups, respite support, mental-health services, food pantry help, and referrals.
Service area: Salt Lake and Park City areas
Eligibility: Programs vary. Some caregiver and dementia support groups are offered at no cost.
Cost: Varies by service; several older-adult support programs are free.
Phone: 801-746-4334
How to start: Call the Salt Lake office or use the Older Adult Services contact form.
4. Dementia
Alzheimer’s Association Utah Chapter
Best for: Best statewide dementia and caregiver navigation resource.
What they help with: Dementia education, caregiver support, local support groups, early-stage programs, care consultation, and a 24/7 helpline.
Service area: Statewide
Eligibility: Open to people living with dementia, families, and caregivers. Some groups may require registration or screening.
Cost: Many information and support services are free.
Phone: 800-272-3900
How to start: Call the 24/7 helpline or use the Utah chapter site to find support and education.
12. Adult day care
Neighborhood House
Best for: Very useful for caregivers trying to keep an older adult safely at home.
What they help with: Supported adult day services for people with dementia, cognitive impairments, developmental disabilities, and other chronic conditions, plus meals, activities, and caregiver respite.
Service area: Salt Lake Valley
Eligibility: Adults age 18 or older who need supported daytime care may qualify after program review.
Cost: Sliding-fee scale; transportation is available within service boundaries for a nominal fee.
Phone: 801-363-4589
How to start: Call the Adult Center to discuss care needs, schedule, fees, and transportation.
Housing, Utilities, Home Repair, and Homelessness
5. Bills and housing
Utah Community Action
Best for: Excellent for utility bills, weatherization, rent problems, and eviction prevention.
What they help with: HEAT utility assistance, weatherization, housing and case management, eviction mediation, workforce services, and homelessness referrals.
Service area: Wasatch Front service region
Eligibility: Income and service-area rules depend on the program. Weatherization gives priority to households that include older adults or people with disabilities.
Cost: Many programs are free for eligible households.
Phone: 801-359-2444
How to start: Call the intake line with ID, income proof, and a lease or utility information when relevant.
10. Home repair
Habitat for Humanity of Utah County
Best for: One of the strongest local options for home safety and accessibility repairs.
What they help with: Home preservation, critical health-and-safety repairs, and Aging in Place accessibility work such as ramps, rails, wider access, safer bathrooms, and grab bars.
Service area: Utah County
Eligibility: Applicants must meet homeowner, income, property, and program requirements.
Cost: Homeowners pay a fee based on repair cost and household income.
Phone: 801-344-8527
How to start: Complete the repair prequalification process on the official site.
13. Homelessness
The Road Home
Best for: Priority resource for seniors who are homeless or may lose housing.
What they help with: Emergency shelter, housing-focused case management, resource centers, and housing-crisis navigation.
Service area: Salt Lake County
Eligibility: Shelter and housing programs have different rules. The Homeless Services Line handles current shelter availability.
Cost: Emergency shelter services do not require a private admission fee.
Phone: 801-990-9999
How to start: Call the Homeless Services Line for immediate shelter. For a housing crisis, use the Road Home housing route or call 211 for other needs.
14. Medical respite
The INN Between
Best for: Critical specialized resource for medically fragile homeless seniors.
What they help with: Medical respite and end-of-life housing for adults experiencing homelessness who are too ill to remain on the street but do not need continued hospitalization.
Service area: Greater Salt Lake area
Eligibility: Adults 18 or older who are homeless or at imminent risk, low-income, and have a qualifying terminal or short-term medical respite need. Medical referral is required.
Cost: The organization says inability to pay is not a reason for rejection.
Phone: 801-410-8314
How to start: A medical or service provider should use the referral process and submit the required medical information.
Health, Medical Equipment, and Employment
11. Medical equipment
Ability Found
Best for: Excellent when insurance does not solve a mobility-equipment need.
What they help with: Manual and power wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, shower and toileting equipment, patient lifts, temporary ramps, vehicle lifts, and other adaptive equipment.
Service area: Utah
Eligibility: Equipment is based mainly on disability and equipment need rather than a financial qualification. A therapist or provider can submit a request.
Cost: A low-cost service fee applies.
Phone: 801-505-0529
How to start: Ask a physical or occupational therapist to submit an equipment request, or contact Ability Found directly if you do not have one.
15. Employment
Easterseals-Goodwill SCSEP
Best for: Best nonprofit route here for an older adult who needs income and a path back to work.
What they help with: Paid work experience, skills training, resume and interview help, digital-skills training, and job-search support through the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
Service area: Utah
Eligibility: Designed for low-income, unemployed adults age 55 or older who meet federal SCSEP rules.
Cost: No participant fee; eligible participants receive paid community-service work experience.
Phone: 800-771-2153
How to start: Call the Utah SCSEP number or submit the program contact form with your ZIP code.
20. Health care
Seager Memorial Clinic
Best for: Strong Northern Utah backup for uninsured or underserved seniors needing basic health, dental, or vision care.
What they help with: Free charitable medical, dental, vision, and mental-health care for underserved people.
Service area: Ogden / Northern Utah
Eligibility: The clinic serves people who lack adequate access to care; availability depends on clinic schedule and service capacity.
Cost: Services are free.
Phone: 801-528-2396
How to start: Call the clinic or check the official site for current clinic schedules and service information.
Disability and Independent Living
16. Disability support
Utah Independent Living Center
Best for: Strong choice for disabled seniors who want to remain independent in the community.
What they help with: Independent-living skills, advocacy, peer support, legal and housing resource connections, assistive technology, and a short-term equipment loan program.
Service area: Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties
Eligibility: People with disabilities of different ages can request support. Services depend on individual goals and program capacity.
Cost: Core independent-living services are generally provided without a traditional service fee.
Phone: 801-466-5565
How to start: Contact UILC and ask for an intake or information-and-referral conversation.
17. Disability support
Roads to Independence
Best for: Excellent Northern Utah disability and nursing-home-diversion resource.
What they help with: Independent-living support, assistive technology and equipment loans, home modifications, transportation, advocacy, life skills, and nursing-home transition help.
Service area: Weber, Morgan, and Davis counties
Eligibility: Services are for people with disabilities of all ages in the service area.
Cost: Many core services are provided through the independent-living program; ask about any program-specific costs.
Phone: 801-612-3215
How to start: Call ahead to discuss services or equipment availability, although walk-ins are also accepted.
18. Disability support
Active Re-Entry
Best for: One of the most useful rural resources for isolated or disabled seniors in Eastern Utah.
What they help with: Independent-living help, low-vision support, assistive technology, equipment loans, transportation, peer groups, Music and Memory, and Friendly Visitor services.
Service area: Daggett, Duchesne, Uintah, Carbon, Emery, Grand, and San Juan counties
Eligibility: People with disabilities in Eastern Utah can request services; individual programs have their own requirements.
Cost: Core independent-living services are generally free.
Phone: 435-637-4950
How to start: Call the Price office or a satellite office serving your county.
19. Disability support
Red Rock Center for Independence
Best for: Key disability resource for seniors in Southwestern and South-Central Utah.
What they help with: Independent-living support, advocacy, skills training, equipment loan bank, transportation help, peer support, older-blind services, and transition assistance.
Service area: Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, Sevier, Washington, and Wayne counties
Eligibility: Serves people of all ages with any type of disability in its nine-county region.
Cost: Core services are provided at no cost.
Phone: 435-673-7501
How to start: Call the St. George office and ask for the staff member serving your county.
Regional Coverage Matters
Utah’s strongest nonprofit help is not concentrated in one statewide system. Salt Lake and Utah counties have many specialized providers, while rural seniors may get more value from an independent-living center or a regional Community Action program. If a card does not cover your county, ask 211 or your Utah aging office for the closest equivalent.
| Organization | Main counties | Strongest use |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Independent Living Center | Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele | Independent living and equipment |
| Roads to Independence | Weber, Morgan, Davis | Equipment, home access, transition |
| Active Re-Entry | Seven Eastern Utah counties | Rural disability and isolation support |
| Red Rock Center | Nine southern/south-central counties | Disability, transportation, older-blind help |
Before You Call or Apply
- Your ZIP code and county.
- Your age and, if relevant, disability or caregiving situation.
- Household size and rough monthly income if the program uses income limits.
- The bill, denial notice, shutoff notice, lease, or medical-equipment information tied to the problem.
- A short sentence explaining what you need right now.
For a more complete preparation list, use the GFS documents checklist.
Phone Scripts You Can Use
For food or basic needs
“I am an older adult in [county]. I need help with food or basic necessities. Do you serve my ZIP code, and what should I bring?”
For home or equipment help
“I need help staying safely in my home. I am having trouble with [stairs/bathroom/mobility equipment]. Do you have a program that fits this need?”
When you are referred elsewhere
“If your program cannot help me, what organization in my county handles this problem? May I have the phone number and the name of the program?”
Reality Checks
- Nonprofits can run out of funds. A program can be active but temporarily unable to take new clients.
- County boundaries matter. A useful organization in Salt Lake City may not serve a senior in rural Utah.
- Not every service is free. Some programs use sliding fees or a modest client contribution.
- Old listings can be wrong. Senior Charity Care, for example, has announced that it is no longer accepting clients or providing services, so it is not included in this active-resource list.
- Ask for another route. A “no” from one nonprofit is not proof that no local help exists.
If Nobody on This List Can Help
Call 211 and ask specifically for the type of help you need in your ZIP code. For senior services, also contact your Area Agency on Aging. If the problem involves a government benefit denial, use the appeal instructions in the written notice and contact Utah Legal Services when appropriate. If the issue is housing, use our Utah housing guide for additional public and local routes.
Resumen en Español
Esta guía reúne 20 organizaciones comunitarias y sin fines de lucro de Utah que pueden ayudar con alimentos, problemas legales, vivienda, reparaciones del hogar, cuidado de adultos, equipo médico, discapacidad, empleo y otras necesidades. Algunas sirven a todo Utah y otras solamente a ciertos condados.
Antes de viajar, llame para confirmar el área de servicio, los requisitos, el costo y si hay espacio disponible. Para ayuda local general, marque 211. Si una organización no puede ayudarle, pida una referencia a otra organización de su condado.
FAQ
Are these organizations only for seniors?
No. Some are senior-specific, while others serve people of many ages. Each card explains whether age, disability, income, location, or another rule may apply.
Do these nonprofits charge a fee?
Many services are free, but not all. Habitat home repair may require a homeowner contribution, Ability Found uses a low-cost equipment fee, and Neighborhood House uses a sliding fee. Always confirm the current cost before agreeing to a service.
What if an organization is outside my county?
Call 211 Utah or your Area Agency on Aging and ask for the same type of service in your county. Several organizations on this page are regional rather than statewide.
Where should I start if I need help today?
For immediate danger call 911. For shelter, food, utility shutoff, or other urgent local needs, call 211 and then contact the organization on this page that most closely matches the problem.
Does GFS receive money from these organizations?
No. These organizations were selected independently for reader usefulness. GFS is not affiliated with them and does not receive payment for listing them.
About This Guide
This guide uses official nonprofit, federal, state, local, and other high-trust community sources mentioned in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency or listed nonprofit and not a substitute for official program guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we will respond within 72 hours.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, service areas, funding, hours, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the organization before acting.
Last updated: 6 September 2026 · Next review: 6 December 2026
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