Life changing programs supported by government funds

Each of the West’s 10 divisions receives substantial government funding in support of programs designed to aid the poor and marginalized.

These programs then generate private donations which augment them, and bring awareness to the public of the Army’s total seamless ministry.

Cascade Division

From the Cascade Division, Portland Metro’s 2000 Government Report outlines the programs it has maintained with the support and investment of public money. Divisional Commander Paul R. Seiler writes: “We believe that our relationships with our public partners represent the very best in public/private partnerships to address the needs of the desperate and the disenfranchised . . . The numbers are important; the people are priceless.”

In the Portland area, The Salvation Army operates two alternative schools and three after-school homework centers. The Portland Public School system provided $70,426 towards these schools in 2000. In this way, vulnerable and at-risk children are given a greater chance to grow into self-sufficient adults.

At the Harbor Light Center for homeless families, the Project Return Program, again in partenership with the Portland Public Schools, keeps children in school and provides tutoring to ensure that their school experience is stable and positive at a time when all else is in turmoil. In 2000, the Harbor Light Center received $202,420 from the city government and $524,247 from the county government. These funds comprised 85% of the program’s total budget.

A greenhouse nurtures young life. By serving Portland’s homeless youth, Cascade Division’s Greenhouse Center does just that. The center celebrated its renovation earlier this year–since it first opened in 1984, it’s grown from 4,300 to 17,250 square feet. During 2000, the Greenhouse provided meals, clothing, advocacy, crisis counseling, an alternative high school, job assistance and esteem-building activities for 1108 youth. The program runs on a budget of $1,599,552, with government funds of $675,348 – 42% of the total budget.

Wounded women and children can find help at Portland’s West Women’s and Children’s Shelter, which provides emergency shelter, transitional housing and counseling for survivors of domestic violence. In 2000, The West helped 663 people with over 15,000 meals served. The shelter’s budget is $899,905, with the government contributing $722,319 or 80% of the total budget.

So. California Division

In the heart of the “nickel”–Los Angeles’ Fifth Street–better known as “Skidrow” to its residents–the down and out of an urban cesspool of drugs and despair find a beacon of hope that never darkens–a light to guide them to a safe harbor. At The Salvation Army’s Harbor Light and Safe Harbor programs the marginal and forgotten of the city discover that a man or woman may be down–but never out. They discover hope. They find sobriety, health, tools to live by, education and training, help in finding employment, transition back into the community–and they find salvation–both spiritual and temporal.

With government dollars funded through contracts with the City of Los Angeles approaching $2 million annually, the Harbor Light programs provide a full array of rehabilitation services every day for 210 men, 54 women. At Harmony Hall, a transition apartment house located outside the center city area, 60 men and women go to regular jobs, pay rent, attend meetings, learn the requisites of sobriety, and become contributors to the community. It is the only licensed rehabilitation program on skid row.

In addition to the extensive programming available, Harbor Light also annually provides about 75,000 meals to the indigent of the area.

The programs provide detox facilities and a women and children’s health care drop-in clinic operated on a government contract in conjunction with County/University of Southern California Hospital. The program has two credentialed teachers who provide basic skill assessment, GED readiness and a learning center with extensive computer assisted instruction. One teacher is employed by the Army and the other is an employee of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The Lighthouse Corps is located on the edge of the premises between the men’s and women’s facility. Program residents attend services because they want to. The officers assigned lead regular Bible study programs and provide spiritual counseling as requested by clients.

Captain Nelly Truelove’s home in Los Angeles for young, unmarried women facing pregnancy alone began its work as the nineteenth century came to a close. It followed on the heels of the Beulah Home which provided the same service in Oakland. As the years passed, similar programs grew in all the large cities of the territory. These programs began receiving government funds in the 1930s–the first Army programs in the territory to be supported in part this way.

Now called Booth Memorial Center, the program offers multiple avenues of personal growth and development for its residents. Over time, it has maintained its focus on helping teenage women deal with issues of pregnancy as well as other social problems stemming from the judicial system. Today, the program operates almost completely with state funds channeled through the Los Angeles County Department of Children’s Services. The program is licensed to serve 44 girls and 24 infants and toddlers with an annual budget of $1,900,000.

Homeless families affected by HIV and AIDS can find shelter at The Salvation Army Bethesda House. Out of an operating budget of approximately 1.4 million dollars a year, 94% of that is supplied through government sources, including state, county and city. The program also directly receives some federal funds. Fully 1.31 million in government funds supports this important program, leaving less than $80,000 from private sources and $10,000 from The Salvation Army.

Currently expanding and relocating to a new site, Bethesda House’s new name will be Alegria-Spanish for “joy”-and will be the largest program of its kind anywhere in the US. Alegria will house up to 44 families and will also provide a licensed child care facility for 60 children. Since LA remains the #2 city in the US for HIV infection, such programs are desperately needed in our society, as are the Army’s expanding HIV prevention programs. Bethesda House hopes to begin its move to Alegria in May. The projected total development budget for Alegria is 9.3 million dollars; of that, 7.4 million is in government funds with the remaining 1.9 million from private sources.

In 1988 the Bell Shelter opened at a federal supply center in Bell, CA (southeast LA county). Today, the shelter provides a full array of social services to more homeless people in East LA than all other shelters combined (US Dept. of Verterans Affairs), and 1/3 of those served are veterans. In 2000, Bell Shelter received $923,543 in government funding, augmented by Salvation Army donations of $75,000. The government funds comprise 70% of Bell Shelter’s income.Countless people, many of them veterans, have been helped since 1988 through the partnering of government funds with Salvation Army services.

 

Northwest Division

The Salvation Army received $1.6 million from the federal government, and an additional $1.3 from state and city funds last year to provide job training, food, health and hygiene programs and emergency medical and shelter programs in the Northwest Division. In addition, Army funds and private contributions provide $24 million for programs.

Federal grants help pay for just about every program offered by the Army except the alcohol and drug rehabilitation program, says Mike Seely, divisional public relations director. That’s because faith is a major component of the program. Seely noted in an interview with the Daily Herald that “People who come to us are seeking God’s intervention to change their lives. Sometimes a higher power has an impact on people who have reached rock bottom.”

The William Booth Center helps homeless men ages 18 and above begin new lives. The center assists its residents with practical, social and spiritual needs, and provides a clean, safe environment for them. Last year, the William Booth Center sheltered 1,164 men.

Families in desperate situations may receive a full year of intensive, one-to-one counseling through the Homeless Family Assistance Program. These families may be on the brink of splitting apart because they have no place to live and no one to turn to. The Army does its best to hold these families together. From October 1999 through September 2000, this program helped 732 people achieve stability and kept them strong during these stressful periods.

The Salvation Army’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program prevents eviction and homelessness from becoming genuine issues for people. Whether it’s help with the rent, a motel voucher, food, heat, clothing, medicine, transportation or any other basic need, The Salvation Army is on the scene to assist people at these crucial times. Last year, this program helped 4,923 people in need hold onto their homes, health and well-being.

Sierra del Mar Division

Sierra del Mar’s programs reflect the wide range of Salvation Army services available throughout the territory. Some of its government funded programs include:

The Transitional Living Program (TLC) at the Door of Hope is for single mothers with children who are transitioning back into mainstream society. Last year this program received $260,000 from the government, along with $62,000 from TSA.

The Haven Program also operates through the Door of Hope. Here, teenage mothers or expectant mothers who are wards of the state learn parenting and life skills while attending school, which is located on site. The young women can remain in the program until their 18th birthday. The Haven is almost solely supported through state funds, with government dollars based on the number of mothers and babies in the program. Last year, the Haven received $785,000 from the state.

The Central Kitchen provides over one million meals per year to seniors. Funding is provided through donations by seniors, TSA funds and contracts with various agencies, the largest being Meals on Wheels, which gets its funding from the government.

Riverside’s Day Care Program provides day care to low income working families. Currently its government funding is $440,000.

San Diego’s Emergency Shelter gives shelter to homeless families-an average stay is 45 days. In 2000, the government supplied $168,000 towards this program, and TSA supplied $250,000, which was raised by the local Advisory Board.

Alaska Division

The Salvation Army in Alaska provides services that assist people in all stages of life. In 2000, the Salvation Army received $7,014,062 in government funding to assist in administering these programs.

In Anchorage, Booth Memorial Youth and Family Services provides residential treatment for adolescent girls and a day treatment program for adolescent boys and girls with mental health and substance abuse diagnoses. Booth also has a Maternity Outpatient Program, a Family Preservation Program, a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention/Education Program, and two high schools–Booth High School, for adolescent clients, and Crossroads High School, which is the Anchorage School District’s alternative high school for pregnant girls. Last year, 1,118 were served and government funding provided $1,360,157.

The Clitheroe Center is a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program including detox and residential treatment for men and women, outpatient, and after-care. Clitheroe includes the Reflections Program, in which women can enter residential treatment and bring their young children with them. The Center is developing a specialty in the treatment of dually-diagnosed individuals, particularly those with chronic mental illness and substance abuse. Clitheroe also provides substance abuse assessment and counseling services in four correctional facilities in the Anchorage area. In 2000, nearly 4,000 clients received assistance at the Center. Government funds provided $4,474,981.

At the McKinnell Emergency Shelter and Family Services, intact families and single fathers with children were provided shelter, including comprehensive case management and supportive services. The Family Services component includes a food pantry, prescription medications, clothing, furnishings, and household goods. Last year, 6773 nights of shelter were given to 429 individuals. Family Services served 20,164, and government funding was $188,367.

Seniors and other adults with disabilities were provided with meals on wheels, congregate meals, accompanied transportation, and homemaker/chore through the Older Alaskans Program. In all, 907 individuals were assisted and the government provided $740,053.

Those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias received care through the Serendipity Adult Day Services, an adult day center that provides a range of therapeutic activities, medical supervision, nutritious meals, bathing assistance, foot care, hair care, and family support and education. In 2000, 56 individuals and their families were assisted and government funds supplied $250,504.

Del Oro Division

$3,676,909 in government funds supported programs in the Del Oro Division during the fiscal year 2000. These dollars paid for childcare for 58 children in Oakland and for 45 children in Sacramento during the year. They also supported these emergency and transitional shelters:

• Sacramento Year-Round Emergency shelters-214 beds; Winter Overflow Shelter-171 beds
• Oakland Garden Street Center-65 beds
• Lodi Archway Shelter-15 beds
• Yuba/Sutter Depot-46 beds
• Petaluma PATH Program-40 units

The government money helped maintain a Prison Visitor’s Center at Susanville’s High Desert State Prison and California Correctional Center.

As in other divisions, the money supported The Salvation Army’s AIDS programs; in Del Oro, it is the Yuba/Sutter CARE Project. The program managed 125 cases last year, providing case management, counseling and supportive services for persons with HIV/AIDS.

Government money also assists numerous corps in the division through funding feeding programs, case management, emergency assistance, and youth programs.

Intermountain Division

The Intermountain Division received $1,351,436 in government money in 2000. Of that amount, $851,566 was by contracts and $499,570 by agreements (including $149,989 through EFSP, Emergency Food & Shelter Program).

Salt Lake City had twelve sources of funds, five actual contracts and seven agreements. One of the contracts was a one time CDBG contract for repairs. Five of the sources were for treatment. Government money reflects 16% of their total income of $3,483,829. Their major income sources are seasonal appeals, store sales and restricted donations. The primary program is residential substance abuse treatment, but they also do urinalysis testing, DUI classes and community meals for the homeless. They have served 102,194 persons.

DDSC has one government source, a VA contract for men placed by the VA Medical Center in the Safe Harbor transitional housing program for homeless men. This is a three phase gratuity program to transition to self-sufficiency. This is 15% of the total $1,338,112 income. The major sources in income are contributions (including tax credit program contributions) and gifts in kind. They have served 705 men with 75,386 meals. They also provided 145,509 meals for the 6,349 men at Crossroads.

Aurora has two contracts, county child care fees and the USDA lunch programs. This represents 25% of the total $746,455 income. The daycare center is licensed for 123 children. Other major sources of income are seasonal appeals and special appropriations. They have served 2437 persons (151 children in the daycare).

Colorado Springs has three government sources, the greatest majority is the HUD SHP (Supportive Housing Program) which is in the second of three years. Their government money amounts to 7.6% of their $1,492,825 income. Their major income sources are seasonal appeals and gifts in kind. Fresh Start (SHP) is a two year transitional housing program with supportive casework services to help homeless families become self-sufficient. Colorado Springs also provides community meals and an extensive emergency assistance program. They also have two HUD senior housing projects which are not reflected in the corps budget. They have served 21,546 persons.

Hawaiian/Pacific Islands Division

While The Salvation Army provides a number of programs and services throughout the division, three programs rely heavily on government funding:

The Family Intervention Services (FIS) provides residential, prevention and intervention services to adolescents on the Big Island of Hawaii. It provides opportunities for youth to challenge their lifestyles through the development of appropriate social skills, academic success and personal resiliency. Each year, FIS serves approximately 700 kids and their families in its residential and outreach programs. Of its $2.3 million budget this year, about 99 percent of its funding, or $2.28 million, comes from government sources–state, county and federal.

The Addiction Treatment Services(ATS) is a residential and outpatient facility that provides professional health care to alcohol and drug dependent people. Situated in Honolulu, the CARF accredited facility provides high quality health care and has received national recognition. Of ATS’s $3.65 million budget, about 87 percent ($3.15 million) comes from government funding. Of these funds, 71 percent comes from State sources, while 29 percent is derived from Federal funds.

During 2001, ATS will provide detox or treatment for an unduplicated total of 1,475 clients. Without government funds, ATS would not be able to maintain operation of the following programs: detox, residential treatment and In-Facility. Best case scenario without government funding is that ATS might be able to maintain a small outpatient treatment program serving perhaps 125 clients annually.

The Family Treatment Services (FTS) is a Honolulu-based facility that provides substance abuse treatment specifically designed for women with children, and specialized mental health services for young children and their parents. FTS addresses the physical, psychological, social, familial and spiritual concerns of its clients.

Last year, FTS served 791 clients. It has an annual budget of $3.8 million. About 84 percent ($3.19 million) is derived from government funding. The rest comes from client fees and United Way funding support.

Southwest Division

Thanks to government assistance last year of $4,742,058, the Southwest Division maintained numerous programs to assist those in need. City funds support:

• the remodeling of the Family Crisis and Domestic Violence Emergency Respite Shelters
• Project HOPE (Homeless Outreach to Place and Empower), a mobile outreach team
• the Herberger Child Care Center (funds are under the Community Development Block Grant)State funds support:
• the Domestic Violence program
• the Family Crisis and Domestic Violence Emergency Respite Shelters (from the Department of Economic Security)

State funds from the Emergency Food and Shelter program also support the Family Crisis and Domestic Violence Emergency Respite Shelters as well as the general emergency assistance program. The Southwest Division also receives state funds under the Child and Adult Food Care Program from the Department of Education. With the help of the government, Southwest is able to reach out to many who need help.