MEDFORD, Ore. - The Salvation Army will celebrate the dedication and grand opening of Hope Lofts on July 17 at 10 a.m. at the Hope House Transitional Living Program.
Commissioners James and Sue-Ellen Betts, leaders of The Salvation Army USA Western Territory, will travel to Southern Oregon to formally dedicate the property and pray over the families and people who will call Hope Lofts home. The celebration will mark a defining moment in the project's journey as The Salvation Army presents the first set of keys to a Hope House participant preparing to move into one of the seven new, fully furnished studio apartments.
"One year ago, we stood on this property with shovels in the ground and a shared vision of creating more than apartments. We wanted to create places where people could feel safe, regain stability and begin building a new future," said Maj. Randy Mulch, Jackson County coordinator for The Salvation Army. "Now, through God's faithfulness and the extraordinary generosity of our community, we will place the first keys into the hands of a participant. That is what Hope Lofts is truly about: opening doors to hope, dignity and lasting change."
The Salvation Army officially broke ground on Hope Lofts on July 15, 2025. Donors, foundations, businesses, government representatives and community partners gathered at the Hope House campus to launch the nearly $1.7 million expansion. Just over a year later, the property is ready to welcome its first families and participants.
Hope Lofts adds seven studio apartments and more than doubles the number of studio units available through Hope House. The apartments will provide safe, stable transitional housing for people and families experiencing homelessness, including older youth, veterans, seniors, couples and small families. Participants will also receive individualized case management, employment assistance, life-skills education, financial coaching, health care connections and support as they work toward permanent housing and greater self-sufficiency.
The expansion responds to a critical shortage of transitional housing in Jackson County, where homelessness has increased by 132% over the past five years. Hope House has frequently maintained a waiting list for its studio apartments, which provide an important next step for people who need a smaller, independent living space while continuing to receive supportive services. Over the next five years, Hope Lofts is expected to help approximately 200 people move from homelessness toward safe, sustainable housing.
"This project demonstrates what can happen when a community recognizes a critical need and comes together to answer it," Mulch said. "Every donor, contractor, foundation, business, volunteer and community partner helped build this opportunity. Their support will be reflected in every family who receives a key, every person who finds employment and every participant who successfully moves into a permanent home."
Hope Lofts was designed by KSW Architects and constructed by Outlier Construction. Both organizations provided leadership and support to help bring the project from its earliest planning stages through completion.
The July 17 celebration will include the formal dedication, ribbon cutting, presentation of the first keys, donor wall unveiling, guided tours and refreshments. Community members, donors and partners are invited to attend and help celebrate this historic milestone.