Salvation Army on the role of shelters in a meaningful homelessness strategy

 
 

While California cities dawdle on implementing more and bigger shelters for homeless people, the Salvation is a proof-of-concept for shelters—including in San Jose. Below, the Salvation Army's argument for why shelters work and are important.

For those with no safe place to go or in need of emergency shelter, local Salvation Army shelters provide a warm, secure place for homeless men, women, and children to stay.  

At The Salvation Army, our doors are open every day — and night — of the year. Through our emergency housing facilities, homeless shelters, transitional living centers, group homes, and family shelters, we provide more than 8 million nights of lodging annually.

Go Deeper:

  • Housing expert says: San Jose—lots of homeless spending, still-soaring homelessness
  • Opinion on SJ homeless nonprofit flops: We don't just need “more shelters”—but better financed/managed shelters
  • Project Roomkey case study: Homeless housing sans behavioral requirements is just plain dangerous

    • In some cities where we do not currently operate homeless shelters, we help provide financial assistance to cover emergency overnight housing costs or refer those facing food insecurity and those at risk of homelessness to trusted partner programs with emergency shelter services. 

    In addition to supplying beds, food, shelter from the elements, and basic hygiene resources to those in need, we help combat long-term homelessness in America by providing homeless adults, veterans, and children with holistic physical, emotional, and spiritual support. 

    During the COVID-19 outbreak, our homeless shelters evolved and innovated to provide a variety of services to their neighbors in need despite the ongoing and ever-changing challenges. Check out The Salvation Army of Marquette County, Michigan’s successful efforts to keep people fed and sheltered when the public transit system was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Read the whole thing here.

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