RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Members of the LGBTQ+ community are grappling with the loss of a local resource after The LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin abruptly announced its closure May 16.

In a post shared on social media, the center - which served Racine and Kenosha counties- cited both funding and the "challenging socio-political climate," as factors in its closure, writing that it's been "increasingly difficult to navigate the issues and concerns which the LGBT Center has faced in the past several years."

"Overwhelmed and shocked, because it came out of nowhere," said Kyle Johnson, LGBT Center volunteer and former board member. "

Johnson said there was no advance notice given to volunteers, staff or community members invested in the nonprofit. 

"There was no three months, or three weeks in advance, 'Hey y'all, things are not looking good for us, we need some help from the community. Let's have a celebration. Let's talk about the 15 years of hard work that people put in,'" Johnson said. 

In the post shared to social media, The LGBT Center, located in Racine, said they are in the "process of dissolution" and that all groups and events are canceled. 

"Right now, there's a lot of young folks in our community, whether they're trans or just queer, generally, who are questioning their place in the world or questioning their identity," Johnson said. "...Especially given the increased rhetoric and target that's been put on their backs. So, I'm sad that, you know, a place for them to meet, a place for them to just talk and make friends has been so suddenly snatched away from them."

He says those impacted want transparency and answers. 

"it's a time to speak up and stand up and be visible," Johnson said. "And be authentic and true to who we are. Not a time to be timid and kind of, I guess, you know, find somewhere to hide. That's what this feels like, it feels like this was too tough, so we're just, you know, we're taking our ball and going home."

"This really matters. This work is important, and it has an impact on people's lives, for good or for worse."

On May 28, the LGBT Center's board of directors released additional information, recognizing a need for transparency. 

The board said the organization is in "dire financial straits," with less than a month of unrestricted funds to pay bills. 

They say while they have secured grants for specific programs, those funds cannot be used to support general operating costs like utilities, building upkeep, property taxes, and staff salaries, and past fundraising has not met the level needed to maintain future operations. 

The release goes on to say:

"Throughout our work, we’ve witnessed the resilience, strength, and humanity of the people we serve. We’re proud of what’s been accomplished together - lives supported, crisis averted, and futures stabilized. However, like many community-based nonprofits, maintaining operations over time has required tough choices. While we’ve explored partnerships, internal adjustments, and alternative solutions, ongoing challenges have made continued service delivery unsustainable.

We understand this news has been difficult. The heart of our mission has always been the well-being of this community. We are deeply grateful to our staff, volunteers, supporters, and most of all, the people who trusted us in their time of need. It has been an honor to serve. We are working with local organizations and established and proven leaders toward solutions to continue supporting our LGBTQIA+ community in SE Wisconsin and to transition services to trusted partners. Additional resources and details will be shared on our website as they are obtained / become available."