City officials said this past weekend, the Salvation Army was called upon by the city to extend shelter for those displaced from the encampment that was forced to close on 11th Street due to hazardous living conditions.
“We are continuing to stay in contact with those displaced from the contaminated site and are working to get them into more permanent housing,” said Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke. “We are very glad to be partnering with The Salvation Army and we appreciate their willingness to serve.”
The homeless tent site is behind the city Wellness Center off 11th Street.
The mayor said through the city of Chattanooga’s newly-formed Interagency Council on Homelessness, agency partners and outreach volunteers have:
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136 individuals identified who stayed on the site
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84 individuals have completed a housing application and screening
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50 applicants have been processed so far
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11 have moved into housing
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27 have been approved and are waiting to move in
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7 have been denied after attending an appeals hearing
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5 have had appeals and are awaiting a decision
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52 individuals did not complete a housing screening or application
“We are happy that this is a path to permanent housing for the homeless in our community,” said Major Robert Lyle, Salvation Army Area Commander for the Greater Chattanooga Region.
The shelter will open each evening at 6 p.m. at The ReCreate Café, The Salvation Army's Day Center, at 800 McCallie Ave. ReCreate’ Cafe staff is busy preparing to serve those in need throughout the evening and during its afternoon hours during the day, it was stated. The day shelter will remain open during its afternoon hours Sunday to Friday.
Volunteers are needed to help serve in the shelter. For volunteer information, email Alissa.Best@uss.salvationarmy.org, or call 423 308-7704.
Donations of coffee, toiletries, blankets and money are being accepted at The Salvation Army, 822 McCallie Ave. Monetary donations can also be made online at www.csarmy.org or by calling 1 800-Sal-Army. For additional information, please call The Salvation Army at 423 756-1023.