UPDATE: Warming shelter closing permanently tomorrow
A Salvation Army warming shelter kept its doors open one extra night but will close permanently on Tuesday.
The shelter opened at 505 S. Weber Street two years ago as a temporary solution for the city’s homeless problem. A spokesperson for Salvation Army said it is shutting down because while it provides relief for homeless people, it doesn’t provide a long-term solution to help them get off the street.
“This shelter was never meant to be a permanent solution,” Jeane Turner, with the Salvation Army said.”When we started it two years ago, we knew it was a temporary solution to a problem that the community was facing.”
On average, the shelter sleeps 140 people. However, on cold nights, as many as 170 people pack inside the place.
Turner said last year, about 1,400 people used the shelter. This year, that number increased to more than 1,500. She said the Salvation Army is focusing on helping those in need by feeding, sheltering and restoring the homeless community.
Catherine Shields, who has been using the shelter all season, calls it a sad day.
“It’s been a really huge help, especially during the winter snowstorms, when the blizzards have come in, and they’ve actually provided us with meals, they’ve given us warmth, and the staff here has been really awesome,” she said.
Neighbors who leave near the homeless shelter have mixed reactions about it. Some neighbors complain the shelter drives transients in the neighborhood. One neighbor started a petition to move the shelter from its location. However, others say they wish the shelter would stay.
“We are an Army town and it’s the hardest thing to realize that they are shutting down and most of these guys have no other place to go,” said Simone Hurley.
“I know a lot of people in the neighborhood didn’t want the shelter to be here, but you have to put it somewhere,” said Sean Zipprich.
Steven Garner has been staying at the shelter since he got out of prison two weeks ago. He said the shelter has been helping him get back on his feet.
“I can sleep here, go down the road, take a shower and go apply for jobs. Just having a place to sleep, it helps,” said Garner.
He’s disappointed the shelter will close permanently on Tuesday.
“I am tired of being on the streets and I am tired of trying to do something for myself and every door I walk into gets closed on me,” said Garner.
The shelter opened in 2014.
