Gastonia homeless shelter closing. Salvation Army seeks ‘better ways’ to address issue
After 25 years, the Salvation Army is closing its homeless shelter in Gastonia.
The Center of Hope Shelter will stop accepting new residents on July 15 and discontinue shelter services for remaining residents on Aug. 31. A 2023 Salvation Army community study determined the emergency shelter was not cost-effective or a “transformative” service for people experiencing homelessness. Instead, the Salvation Army will handle emergency shelter requests on a case-by-case basis through community partnerships.
In 2023, 388 people in Gaston and Lincoln counties, and 9,754 people statewide experienced homelessness at any given time.
Maj. David Phelps, the Salvation Army officer for Gaston and Lincoln counties, said the shelter’s occupancy usually isn’t more than half-full. People are more frequently asking for mortgage or affordable housing assistance, rather than emergency housing access, he said.
“It’s so much more cost-effective to keep someone in their home than it is for them to be homeless, put them in the shelter, and then try to find ways to get them back into a home,” he said.
The new prevention program will provide long-term solutions for people at risk of homelessness. With a short-term solution like emergency housing, the Salvation Army cannot address the root causes of homelessness, Phelps said.
The program’s case management team will assess an individual or family’s needs holistically and provide resources as needed, Phelps said.
Phelps said community leaders support the Salvation Army’s new direction for the Center of Hope. Gaston County spokesperson Dandria Bradley told The Charlotte Observer the county’s health and human services department will work with the shelter’s residents during the transition.
In a news release, Gaston County Board of Commissioners Chairman Chad Brown said the county wants to assure the public the transition does not mean an end to its commitment to community service for those in need.
Gastonia Mayor Richard Franks said in the release the city will assess community needs and work with partners to further support those experiencing homelessness.
The Salvation Army’s facility at 107 S. Broad St. in Gastonia will continue to provide a food pantry, case management services and emergency financial assistance.
“What we’ve learned is that there are better ways at dealing with this than there were two decades ago,” Phelps said. “We want to move forward with better plans and better resources to serve our community.”
