The Salvation Army Continues to Shelter Homeless Families
Salvation Army Continues to Work to Serve Homeless Population
Quad Cities – The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities is collaborating with other agencies offering shelter and housing programs to help individuals and families in the Quad Cities.
The Salvation Army is the lead agency of the Coordinated Entry point for Scott County Iowa and Rock Island County Illinois. The Coordinated Entry point is the first step in the process for homeless families and individuals to be placed into a housing program. Since its inception on January 2, 2019, the Coordinated Entry process has worked with 131 clients. Of those, 95 met the Federal Government’s definition of being homeless. Coordinated Entry refers these families and individuals to one of the agencies that provide emergency shelter and housing programs in the Quad Cities.
As one of the agencies offering emergency shelter and housing, The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities has dramatically increased the number of families and individuals served, as well as the number of shelter nights provided.
In the period October of 2018 through March 2019, The Salvation Army has served 92 families and provided 7,321 total shelter nights, with its Emergency Shelter, which is an increase of 2997 shelter nights over the same time period a year earlier.
In October of 2018, The Salvation Army Family Services, also, shifted its focus to preventing homelessness. This is done by providing one-time assistance for those families and individuals who are in danger of becoming homeless. Since October, 2018, 137 families, totaling 429 people have received assistance, to help keep them in their homes.
Salvation Army Quad Cities Coordinator, Major Scott Shelbourn says the shift in focus allows The Salvation Army to have a more comprehensive plan in addressing homelessness, “We are utilizing a community-based housing program, where we provide rental assistance and case management to keep families in their own homes. We are working with local landlords, and collaborating with local agencies to find sustainable housing for families, to break the cycle of chronic homelessness.”
The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities also offers case management. Part of the case management is the option to enter into the Pathway of Hope initiative. Pathway of Hope provides individualized services to families with children who desire to take action to break the cycle of crisis and vulnerability that repeats generation after generation. Pathway of Hope helps families overcome challenges like unemployment, unstable housing, and lack of education. Eight families will graduate from the Pathway of Hope program this week.
The Salvation Army of the Quad Cities Family Services mission is to guard families from the effects of poverty by providing a safety net of services, assistance, and spiritual care.