Finding Solutions: New Center of Hope work starts for Salvation Army
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Salvation Army of Augusta is moving forward with its plan to open a new Center of Hope.
It’s their overnight shelter, which has been used for more than 50 years on Greene Street.
They’re finding solutions in opening a new facility to better serve those in need.
It’s a project in the early stages as crews work to clean and clear out an old vacant building located on Hale Street.
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Once crews knock this building down, it will one day be the home of the Salvation Army’s new Center of Hope.
“We’re excited about these early steps and moving forward and trying to better serve those in our area who are in need,” said Major Jonathan Raymer, with the Salvation Army of Augusta.
Raymer says the current center of hope has been serving as a shelter for more than 50 years.
He says the Salvation Army built the facility, but not with a shelter in mind.
“Over time, what we’ve done is modify it and fix it so we could address the need as best as possible; however, because of the building being the way it is, there are only certain things we can do to make it conducive to be a homeless shelter,” said Raymer.
Raymer says having a new Center of Hope would change that and allow them to do more for the increase in people they’re seeing at the shelter.
“So often when we view homelessness, we think of men, but the reality is we have more women and children in the Center of Hope than men, so being able to address that better is an important piece of this,” said Raymer.
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Raymer says they’re still in the beginning stages of the design, but do want to create areas specifically for men and women as well as community spaces to hold clinics.
“Within the Salvation Army they move the majors around and I know I have one shot at this, and really the community has one shot at this to make as big an impact as possible and so we are taking that very seriously and want to make the most impact as possible for those experiencing homelessness,” he said.
There is no timeline just yet on when the new Center of Hope will be complete, since they are still in the early stages.
It will be on Hale Street, not too far from May Park.
If you would like to the Salvation Army in their mission, visit https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/augusta/provide-shelter/
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