PETOSKEY ROTARY "NOON" CLUB AWARDS $2,000 FOR INCREASED SHELTER NEEDS
PETOSKEY ROTARY “NOON” CLUB AWARDS THE SALVATION ARMY $2,000 TO HELP WITH INCREASING HOMELESS NIGHTS OF SHELTER.
May 17, 2023, Petoskey, MI- The Salvation Army of Petoskey was awarded a grant of $2,000 through the Petoskey Rotary “Noon” Club to help with the increasing need for nights of shelter for homeless individuals and families. Prior to the pandemic, The Salvation Army was providing around 33 nights of shelter at around $3,300 per year which has increased more than 7 times to an average of 250 nights per year at around $20,000.
Demand for services continues to increase due to inflation and pandemic fatigue which ended moratoriums and exhausted emergency resources. Last fiscal year, The Salvation Army of Petoskey disbursed $740,000 in emergency financial assistance; up $90,000 from last year’s $650,000 in their tri-county service area. Additionally, they provided an additional $170,000 in leveraged financial assistance through case management services resulting in a total of $910,000 of assistance that went to neighbors in need… a far cry from the average $336,000 in assistance pre-Covid.
“I am so thankful to live in this amazingly kind and generous community that allows us to reach out to so many individuals and families in need every day and continue to provide them with desperately needed services despite the steadily increasing amount of need. We are truly blessed!” says Director of Community Resource Development, Amy Evans.
Because of the increased and increasing demand for programs and services, The Salvation Army is renovating a facility that will become the new Regional Community Center and central hub of operations for Emmet, Charlevoix and Antrim Counties. The 35-year-old building needs many repairs, updates and renovations before it opens and will cost close to $1 million.
The Regional Community Center will provide solutions to many existing barriers that have been limiting the quality and capacity of many programs and services due to the limitations of the current location. It is barrier free, has enough parking space for the public, green space for outdoor play and has the capacity to expand critical services such as emergency financial assistance for utilities and other critical human needs such as food and shelter; Child, senior and family self-sufficiency programs; addiction recovery support; holiday assistance and more.
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. For more about our year-round programs and services or to make a donation, please call (231)347-3531 or visit SAPetoskey.org.