Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good
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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good
Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!
"If we are to better the future, we must disturb the present."
These words from The Salvation Army's cofounder Catherine Booth inspire us daily to work to make our community a better place. The "Together We Build" campaign aims to raise nearly $15 million to support our most impactful programs and facilities, removing barriers to success and strengthening families and our community at large.
More people than ever before are experiencing homelessness in Madison and the surrounding areas. Lack of affordable housing coupled with significant growth in the community is driving rent out of reach for many people. The demand for drop-in shelter has increased. In 2023, we provided around 60,000 nights of shelter. Our facilities – located in various outdated, repurposed buildings around the community – are at capacity and difficult for some guests to access. The Salvation Army is recognized as a leader among the organizations solving the issue of homelessness in Dane County. We partner with dozens of government agencies and other not-for-profits to find housing, shelter, medical services, education and other resources. Comprehensive services include emergency shelter, housing services, medical respite and case management.
Our new 2-building campus on the 600 block of East Washington will deliver four key components to help people find safe, secure housing and rebuild their lives:
A Dignified emergency shelter
Affordable permanent homes
Dedicated and Comprehensive support services
Coordinated Shelter and Community Center
We believe strong communities provide essential support and care for all residents. The Salvation Army has been a lifeline in Dane County residents in need for more than a century.
The entire project is estimated to cost around $50 Million. Shield apartments – not part of the community campaign – was paid for with tax credits and public grants. The new affordable apartments opened in March 2024.
The new shelter and community center is estimated to cost around $30 million. The Salvation Army embarked on a campaign to raise $15 million in support of this transformational project and, as of July 2024, we have raised over $11.08 million. We invite you to join our effort to end homelessness. Because of generous supporters and community leaders, people in Dane County have always had a place to turn to in their most desperate hours. With your help, we can build a new campus that strengthens each other and give our most vulnerable neighbors an opportunity for a better life.
Campaign Testimonials
“My journey took me up and down, up and down. Through it all, The Salvation Army was here. They gave me the push I needed, telling me they knew I could do it – that they’d help me figure it out, but also that I had to help myself. The case managers helped me find a job, they helped me with an apartment. They had so many resources I could fall back on. I go to bed thanking God and I wake up thanking God.”
“I’m proud to be a long-standing supporter of The Salvation Army of Dane County, and of the positive impact they make within our community. This project is important to me because it directly supports and strengthens those in need, right in our own backyard.”
“The Salvation Army focuses like a laser on helping homeless women and families – giving them a warm place to stay and getting them into permanent housing. I really don’t know we’d do without them, because no one else fills that niches in our community.”
Total: $15,000,000*
*The total campaign also includes resources for an operating endowment for these new facilities and programs. More than $10 million has already been committed to the campaign.
Get Involved
With your prayer, financial support and advocacy, we can "better the future" for countless individuals and families in our community. Together, we can make our community all that it aspires to be.