Amazing Good CAMPAIGN
The Salvation Army of the Chattahoochee Valley
serving Chattahoochee, Muscogee, Marion and Harris counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama
Putting Families on a Pathway of Hope.
Amazing Commitment Transformational change for homeless families.
“The families who will be coming here will be under the stress of the effects of poverty, among other factors. Having a clean, attractive and secure dining area opening onto a protected courtyard with kid-friendly play environment will help make their stay a good experience for all. The design will enable better changes to begin anew.” – Neil Clark, Architect
We are Doing
Amazing Need Homeless families lack appropriate emergency housing No homeless parent wants their child to sleep in a room with strangers. In the 2021/2022 school year, the Muscogee County School District counted 1,098 students as homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. We do not have enough emergency housing capacity for homeless families. The situation is especially dire for homeless families with children age 12 and older. The Salvation Army is part of the
solution, but our dated Second Avenue facility holds us back. In August 2019, The Salvation Army was the first organization in the Chattahoochee Valley to work with Home for Good to launch a program to house homeless families in local hotels and motels. In 2021, we provided transformative emergency housing for 389 parents and children. We can do more in a new Center of Hope.
A New Center of Hope will increase our capacity to transform lives! Program
# Currently Served (CY2021)
Family Shelter
Projected #Served New Center of Hope
% Increase
389
816
109.8%
20
30
50%
603
650
7.8%
8,151
12,000
47%
Grocery Assistance
833
1,100
32%
Referrals
381
420
10%
3,818
6,000
57%
Pathway of Hope-Case Management Emergency Financial Assistance Daily Feeding
Clothing Items Distributed
Amazing Good!
Amazing Solution 3 Steps to transform the lives of homeless families
1
Construct a Center of Hope on Second Avenue The new Center of Hope will have 17 familiy rooms. These living spaces will provide privacy and opportunities for communitybuilding for the families who make the Center of Hope their temporary home. An industrial kitchen allowing for efficient meal preparation and the computer lab, outdoor garden and playground will give residents of all ages places for respite, recreation and learning opportunities.
3
Use The Salvation Army Corn Center programs to serve the entire family Our thriving children’s afterschool and summer day camp programs, performing arts program for children and adults, along with weekly worship and fellowship opportunities at the Corn Center on Warm Springs Road will be a huge benefit for homeless children and their parents.
2
Provide more than a bed The new Center of Hope’s first floor will be a transformational space. Private office space and classrooms will provide a confidential setting for Salvation Army caseworkers to work with residents, Pathway of Hope participants, and others in need who yearn to break free from the chains of poverty for themselves and their family. The Salvation Army team and collaborative partners will use their knowledge and network to wrap a supportive arm around our neighbors in need to: • locate affordable, safe housing through Rapid Rehousing • connect residents to educational and workforce training opportunities with partners like Goodwill Industries and Columbus Tech • provide emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness • prevent hunger • refer job candidates to The Salvation Army’s Family Store for appropriate work attire • register children for affordable, educational afterschool care and summer day camp • work with clients, using casework best practices, to create realistic, achievable plans to move families from poverty to sustainability
Amazing Location For more than 80 years, The Salvation Army’s Second Avenue facilities have served the most vulnerable. They are now rundown and unequipped to meet the needs of homeless families. After analyzing multiple prospective sites, The Salvation Army Advisory Board made the decision to remain in its historic location. Structures on the 1.5-acre parcel – a 9,084 sq. ft. building used for social services and the former church (6,986 sq. ft.) now used for storage – will be demolished to make way for the new 21,260 sq. ft. Center of Hope. Demolition and rebuilding a new, modern building presents a an exciting opportunity to develop a facility that will: • Most importantly, be designed specifically to shelter homeless families – an urgent community need • Include some of the latest advances in design and efficiency, allowing for future operational sustainability • Replace a community eyesore with a modern, attractive campus that enhances the surrounding neighborhood and encourages future revitalization along the Second Avenue corridor
The current campus consists of a 9,084 square foot building and another vacant structure. The new Center of Hope facility will be 21,260 square feet.
The new Center of Hope will have 17 family rooms.
Amazing Transformation
Putting families on a Pathway of Hope. The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope initiative 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. It seeks to address the root causes of poverty in addition to The Army’s history of compassionate serving. By helping families overcome challenges like unemployment, unstable housing, and lack of education, The Salvation Army and collaborative partners can guide families toward increased stability and, ultimately, self-sufficiency.
“The Salvation Army is a place of hope. When every other light is extinguished, and every other star has gone down, this one gleam shines steadily and clearly out in the darkened sky: ‘If I could only get to The Salvation Army, they will do something for me.’”
– William Booth
You...Are Amazing The Chattahoochee Valley is blessed with caring and generous people who work together to make life better for their neighbors.
Please join us. We need you. Homeless families need you.
Be amazing!
$8.5 Million will be used to construct the Center of Hope and establish a maintenance endowment.
Find out how you can
Be Amazing.
Please contact Capt. Jason Smith at jason.smith@uss.salvationarmy.org.
The Salvation Army of the Chattahoochee Valley Captains Jason & Melissa Smith 706-561-9026 www.amazinggood.org