New Haven Pride Center Shuts Down Amid $200,000 IRS Debt and Leadership Turnover

The News

The New Haven Pride Center will cease all normal operations on February 26, 2026, furloughing staff and closing its location at 50 Orange Street in the Ninth Square indefinitely. Board President Hope Chávez announced the shutdown on February 23, citing $200,000 in IRS debt, the loss of grant funding, and a leadership crisis that has left the organization without a permanent executive director.

The closure halts the center's food pantry, youth outreach programs, and mental health support services — resources that have served New Haven's LGBTQ+ community for years. Staff have been furloughed effective immediately.

Financial and Leadership Crisis

Rhe organization accumulated $200,000 in debt to the IRS and lost its tax-exempt status in 2022 after failing to file required federal forms, the New Haven Independent reported. The center regained its tax-exempt status in 2023, but the underlying debt remained.

The leadership instability compounded the financial problems. Executive Director Juancarlos Soto departed in April 2025. The board hired Edward Summers as his replacement in November 2025, but Summers resigned within one week of starting the role, the New Haven Independent reported.

With no executive director in place, funders that had been supporting the center required permanent executive leadership as a condition of continued funding. When the board could not meet that requirement, the grants dried up.

What It Means for New Haven

The Pride Center at 50 Orange Street had served as a central hub for LGBTQ+ residents in New Haven, offering food assistance, youth programming, mental health services, and community space. Its closure leaves a gap in services for a population that advocates say faces disproportionate challenges in accessing healthcare and support.

Community members seeking LGBTQ+-affirming services can contact Anchor Health, a community health provider in New Haven, or A Place To Nourish Your Health (APNH), a local food and health services organization. No formal transition plan directing Pride Center clients to alternative providers has been announced.

The board has said it is seeking solutions and hopes to resume operations, though no timeline has been set. Chávez has indicated the board is working to identify a path forward within 30 days.

Background

The New Haven Pride Center has experienced repeated organizational challenges in recent years. The loss of tax-exempt status in 2022 disrupted fundraising and grant eligibility. Even after regaining the status, the center struggled to stabilize its finances and retain leadership.

The back-to-back departures of Soto and Summers left the organization without executive leadership for most of 2025 and into 2026. The board has been operating without a permanent director since Summers' resignation in November.

The Health & Human Services Committee agenda for February 26, 2026, does not list the Pride Center as a discussion item. No formal city response to the closure has been announced.

Community reaction on social media and local news forums has reflected concern about the loss of services, with many expressing hope that the center can reopen.

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