Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid zip code

Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid zip code

Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
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A Century of Service

The Salvation Army has been serving Charlottesville since 1912. We deliver hope to our poorest, most vulnerable neighbors throughout Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna, Nelson, and Buckingham counties. We embrace people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The need is growing, especially for housing solutions and homeless prevention in the greater Charlottesville area. Our vision is to meet current and future needs and to provide transformational opportunities necessary for our neighbors to thrive.

Moving From Crisis To Hope

Greater capacity is needed to provide hope to individuals and families in crisis.

THE REASONS FOR EXPANSION

POVERTY
More than 1 in 5 of Charlottesville residents live in poverty.
U. S Census Bureau

FOOD INSECURITIES

14% of individuals in Charlottesville do not have enough to eat. 
Feeding America–Map the Meal Gap

LIVING ON THE EDGE

30% of Albemarle County households are part of the ALICE population (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed).
United for ALICE

UNHOUSED & UNSHELTERED

19 unsheltered men and women experiencing homelessness were counted in the 2024 Point-in-Time Count. The real number is likely higher.
2024 Point-in-Time

TOO LITTLE CAPACITY

20-30 unhoused individuals call our office monthly seeking emergency shelter. The Salvation Army doesn’t have the capacity to house them.
Salvation Army Statistic

MORE REQUESTS TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS

An average of 6 calls daily seeking rental assistance. An average of 300 calls per month seeking utility assistance.
Salvation Army Statistic

The Fear that Accompanies Homelessness

An August 29, 2023, article published by the (Charlottesville, VA) Daily Progress illustrated the dramatic rise of homelessness in our community. The article profiled a homeless man who, for many years, had owned his business but lost everything because of severe, progressive physical problems. He shared that for those without safe shelter, the streets can be very dangerous at night. He fears dying on the street. We must work together to address this crisis. 

The Salvation Army sees the need and wants to make a positive difference.

120 Annually: Unhoused To Housed

“But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.” (Psalms 9:18)

The Salvation Army meets people in need, in their time of need. 

Over the past two years, The Salvation Army provided a housing solution to an average of 613 unhoused men, women, and children annually. To prevent homelessness, an average of 2,047 received assistance with utililities payments, food, clothing, and referrals through the emergency services program. Staff and volunteers served an average of 46,314 meals annually.

Our holistic approach focuses on transitions from instability – oftentimes even a life on the streets – to self-sufficiency marked by physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual stability.

The Salvation Army provides a continuum of care to our unhoused clients, both individuals as well as families. If we have space, no one is turned away. For those desiring to break through poverty, The Salvation Army provides a very effective program, Pathway of Hope. Case management professionals work closely with clients as they prepare for and seek employment. Once employed, The Salvation Army continues to provide shelter and meals so clients can save for housing. Each year, an average of 120 individuals joyfully move to housing in the community.

Renee’s Story

For 14 years, Renee (an actual Salvation Army client, her name is changed to protect her identity) served our country in the US Air Force. Upon honorable discharge, Renee took a civilian job, had an apartment and led what appeared to be a normal life.

For Renee, a storm was brewing. She developed a fear she couldn’t handle on her own, a mounting, severe paranoia of being around people. Her mental health deteriorated to the point where Renee couldn’t leave her apartment.

Consequently, she lost her job and her savings dwindled to a point where she couldn’t pay her rent and was evicted. This living storm rained down on Renee for a full year.

Renee was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was hospitalized for a month. She received medication and began to recover, but she had nowhere to go. She had no job, no money, not even legal identification.

The hospital contacted The Salvation Army, and there Renee found shelter from the storm.

The Salvation Army gave Renee structure and stability. They gave her clothes, food, and a bed. They helped her apply and receive legal identification, helped her with a resume, and helped her find employment. While still a resident, Renee is now saving money for her own place.

“The Center of Hope,” says Renee, “is more than just a bed, it’s a family. Everyone cares.”

I live here, I don’t feel homeless.

"It’s much more than just a homeless shelter, it’s hope for the hopeless, dignity for the homeless. I live here, I don’t feel homeless.” - Renee

 

The Current Center of Hope

The Current Ridge Street Campus is Home to:

♣ 55-bed emergency shelter for men and women

♣ 60-seat community dining room – the Café

♣ Social services office

♣ Food pantry

♣Hygiene pantry

Portions of the campus were constructed in the late 1960’s. Not all buildings are easily accessible for people who are less mobile and there is little space for collaboration.

“The Salvation Army has been discussing this issue and our response for decades. Now is the time for action. We were correct then and are correct now that our services will continue to be needed.” 
– Captain Mark Van Meter, Commanding Officer

 

The NEW Center of Hope

Will expand The Salvation Army’s capacity to meet human needs at the existing Ridge Street campus.

The NEW Center of Hope will be a four-story, approximately 47,000 sq. ft. building, and will increase capacity by nearly 15,000 sq. ft.

  • The housing solution for single men and women will increase from 55 to 114 beds. The additional seven 2-bedroom transitional housing suites will allow families to stay together. The section will also include a children’s playroom.
  • A larger multi-purpose room will increase to 2,415 sq. ft. and will be used for youth and adult programming, emergency services, and The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Christmas gift campaign.
  • Life-skills training classrooms, an essential part of The Salvation Army’s program to transform lives, will double from four to eight rooms, a net increase of 44 seats.
  • To adequately feed our residents and provide hot evening meals to others in need, our dining hall will increase from 60 to 120 seats.
Program/Ministry Current Capacity New Capacity
Housing solution for single men and women. 55 beds + 10 extra beds for cold weather sheltering 114 total beds
Community Dining Room (breakfast and dinner daily, with lunch for residents) 60 seats 120 seats
Family Transitional Housing 28 beds: 4 one-bedroom units + 5 two-bedroom units 28 beds: 7 two-bedroom units

 

More Space To Do More Good

 

  • Large Multi-Purpose Room
  • More Space For Collaboration
  • Life Skills Training Classrooms
  • Larger Community Dining Room

 

 

Hope For Tomorrow

“You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.”
--William Booth, Founder, The Salvation Army

The Hope Has a Place campaign goal is estimated at $28 million.

The Salvation Army is blessed to cast this ambitious vision. The need is urgent, and we need your help to make real and lasting change in the lives of those who need it most.

Pledges and contributions, which can be fulfilled for up
to five years, are needed to reach this goal. In addition
to cash contributions, gifts of appreciated stock, bonds,
marketable real estate, and/or other appreciated and
appraisable possessions can be accepted. A variety of
planned and deferred gifts such as trusts, life insurance,
and bequests can be used to leave a legacy in support
of the endowment fund.

This is your opportunity to make a difference. Please
join us as we show those who need it most that

Hope Has A Place.

Construction

$24,200,000
Operations Endowment  $2,200,000 
Contingency  $1,584,000 
Total $27,984,000
GOAL $28,000,000

 

“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight. While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight. While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight. While there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight. I’ll fight to the very end!”
--William Booth, Founder, The Salvation Army

 

CAMPAIGN CONTACTS

Learn more

Major Donny Wilson
Charlottesville Corps Officer
tel: 434-295-4058
email: [email protected]

Make a financial commitment 

Sharie Wilkins
Charlottesville Corps Development Director
tel: 434-295-4058
email: [email protected]

Contribute appreciated assets and IRA funds

Kim Wentz
Senior Regional Resource Development Director, The Salvation Army Potomac Division
tel: 804-400-5992;
email: [email protected]