Salvation Army eyes expanding shelter services

Salvation Army officials have looked at locating a shelter at the mayor’s proposed homeless services complex at the old Farmers’ Market site.

Kimberly George, the agency’s director of marketing and development, said Salvation Army representatives have considered expanding their shelter services for the past two years and has eliminated from consideration virtually every property except the Farmers’ Market site, she said.

“That’s the only one we’re even entertaining at this time for a shelter,” Ms. George said Friday.

Mayor Ron Littlefield was in meetings Friday afternoon and unavailable for comment, spokesman Richard Beeland said.

Mr. Beeland said the American Institute of Architects’ sketch of the complex includes areas that could be shelter space.

“We let them (the Salvation Army) know that the space is available it they wanted to use it,” he said. “The offer’s been on the table for a long time.”

The proposition to use the space for shelter is “up for anyone,” Mr. Beeland said.

Mr. Littlefield proposed the homeless services complex at the 9-acre property off East 11th Street about two years ago. The City Council has approved leases for the following uses at the site:

n A training and transit center for the Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency’s transportation services.

n A day center and office facility for the Interfaith Homeless Network of Greater Chattanooga.

Neither organization has broken ground on its planned facility.

M.L. King neighborhood residents and others oppose the proposed complex, saying they are worried that the site would not address issues of homelessness and would create problems.

Anita Polk-Conley, president of the M.L. King Neighborhood Association, declined to comment specifically on the Salvation Army possibly putting a facility at the old Farmers’ Market site. She said Friday afternoon that in general the project has not been managed well.

Any initiative to deal with homelessness should incorporate transitional housing, supportive social services and employment opportunities, she said.

“I don’t think those three elements have been part of the initial plan from the very beginning,” Dr. Polk-Conley said.

Meanwhile, Ms. George said, agency representatives will be meeting in coming days to discuss future shelter needs. Officials need to look at funding and how much shelter space they need, she said.

Ms. George said the Salvation Army offers shelter beds through a few different programs. But she said the agency wants to broaden those services to help others, including people with second- and third-shift jobs.

“We are totally committed to meeting the needs of the community,” she said. “However we can do that best is our primary goal.”