The number of sheltered individuals with chronic patterns of homelessness increased by 20% between 2020 and 2021, highlighting the crucial role of homeless shelters. This is a challenge that we are tackling with full heart and compassion. For those with no safe place to go or in need of emergency shelter, local Salvation Army homeless 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 safe lodging annually.

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 shelter services for unhoused people.

In addition to supplying beds, food, shelter from the elements, and basic hygiene resources to those in need at our homeless shelters, 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.

Our transitional housing programs are designed to transition unhoused people from homeless shelters into more permanent living situations. In many programs, The Salvation Army provides case management, child care, job skills training, substance abuse counseling, job placement, and referral to resources when needed. 

Often our facilities will partner with other local agencies to serve a particular community’s need. For instance, The Salvation Army White Mountain Outpost has teamed up with the White Mountain Coalition Against Homelessness to open and run a brand-new transitional housing program in Lakeside, Arizona. 

The Salvation Army’s long-term housing services span virtually every life stage or need, from supportive facilities for the elderly and affordable housing programs for low-income seniors to apartment assistance for vulnerable young adults to dedicated living complexes for homeless adults and families with children. Across our thousands of local branches, we assist those struggling to get by on fixed incomes, those fighting to rise above the poverty line, and those working tirelessly to give their children a safe place to call home through various assistance programs. 

One outstanding example a homeless service is Booth Manor Senior Housing in Minneapolis, a 21-story senior residence with 156 apartments. Here, residents can stave off the bitter loneliness so often associated with retirement and aging through programs that provide physical and emotional benefits, and seniors can make new connections and friendships. 

In addition to providing food and lodging, our centers offer educational support, counseling, mental health, and vocational services to homeless individuals, families, and vulnerable youth. Our dedicated on-site caseworkers help clients to embrace responsibility, meet important goals, and gain self-sufficiency. In fact, even after residents secure permanent housing, we continue to help them maintain stability by way of food and utility assistance. 

One tremendous example is The Salvation Army of North Texas’ Home Sweet Home program, which helps to effectively reverse homelessness in people’s lives by matching them with caseworkers and providing tools that help people manage household budgets.