Valley residents have seen many records broken this winter; record cold temperatures, record snow fall and record numbers of homeless seeking shelter.

This winter (since November 2009) The Salvation Army has seen an increase in resident requesting shelter from the cold.

The Salvation Army Emergency & Family Shelter houses and average of 68-75 residents a night. Over 75 % of our residents are members of the community that due to the current economic downturn have lost their jobs/cannot find employment and cannot afford to pay rent.

A new realization that the Salvation Army is addressing is the growing need for additional seasonal thermal shelter space for the chronically homeless.

According to Christal Yowell, Director of Development for the Harrisonburg Salvation Army, these citizens would not normally be eligible to receive shelter in the Emergency & Family Shelter due to failure to comply with the alcohol/drug policies put in place to protect the children and families at the Salvation Army's Emergency & Family Shelter.

Similar to other thermal seasonal shelter programs, the Salvation Army accepts the overflow from HARTS once they have exceeded the 24 bed limit for their program.

Currently up to 25 adult homeless can be sheltered in the Salvation Army Center for Worship multipurpose room in the Corps building- across the street from our Emergency & Family Shelter.

The organizations says cots, blankets, and use or showers are available. Those seeking shelter on inclement nights have the option of checking in with HARTS program or coming directly to the Salvation Army's site.

The Salvation Army has received 25 cots to address this need and have requested more should the program continue to grow. The Salvation Army Auxiliary Thermal Shelter officially started January 25, 2010 and will continue through April 1, 2010 or until seasonal shelter needs decrease.

Implementing this program was in response to requests by HARTS when their program began to exceed their 24 bed limit in November 2009. “We would receive a call to see if we had any space for their overflow”, said Captain Burleigh,” I would tell them (HARTS) to send over anyone who could pass a breath-a-lizer. We will find room for anyone needing shelter; it’s too cold for anyone to be outside”. Now that the Salvation Army Auxiliary Thermal Shelter is in place we don’t have to test anyone seeking shelter. They just come in, to a warm safe place.

This program was awarded funding from HRHA (received $7500 January 22) and The United Way of Harrisonburg/ Rockingham County (also $7500) to implement this additional component of available shelter beds in our community.

The Salvation Army Auxiliary Thermal Shelter is open 7 days a week from 9 pm to 7 am for anyone seeking shelter. It is located in the Salvation Army Center for Worship at 185 Ashby Avenue – the entrance is the side door facing the parking lot. For more information contact The Salvation Army at 434-4854. Even on the coldest nights of the year, we sleep with our doors open.