The Madison County Salvation Army (TSA) has been operating out of Alton for 136 years, working as a nonprofit to provide essential goods and services to those in need. The organization has recently started work on their newest project, the New Hope House, which is a shelter for homeless Madison County individuals and families. The purpose of this New Hope House, as explained by TSA Madison County Corps Officer Cassondra Grey, TSA Advisory Council member Travis Widman, and TSA St. Louis Area Commander Major Adam Moore, is to bring uplifting housing to struggling residents.
“The idea of the New Hope House is to expound and grow what it is that the (Salvation) Army is already doing,” Grey said. “We are committed, as we have been, to making sure that we are helping out our neighbors in need.”
Prior to COVID, the Salvation Army operated a similar program through their Booth House. In 2021, the house was torn down due to its growing disrepair. According to Salvation Army Advisory Council Member Travis Widman, the new building and upgraded formatting of the Hope House will provide more recreational opportunities, and individual spaces while still maintaining a community environment.
“We give them a hand up instead of a hand out,” Widman said, “We give them services that help them better their situation. We help them gain employment, we help teach them life skills like budgeting and cooking and just taking care of your space.”
Among these new facets will be an outdoor playground for children, a large lobby on the main floor, indoor recreational space for children to complete schoolwork and parents to work on situation-improving projects like job applications. The Salvation Army is the only emergency housing organization in the county that serves men, women and children.
“They’d have their own space, and we want to expound upon that, giving them a space that brings them not only dignity, but also just the opportunity to blossom and grow,” Grey said.
Prospective occupants of the New Hope House will be required to go through a thorough application process before their residency. Applicants will go through Madison County Community Development screening before being referred to the local shelter service that best fits their needs.
The Hope House will adopt a practice of wraparound case management. The program will not only help residents during their time of homelessness, but will extend hospitality afterwards to ensure that individuals and families are still thriving.
“We continue living life with them with that wraparound case management, making sure that we’re checking in and that they are still achieving and chasing after those goals,” Grey said.
The overarching goal for the project is to give aid and relief through elevating, dignifying housing. The New Hope House will have a total of 48 available beds to house those who have been met with difficult situations.
“The Salvation Army has been here for 136 years, serving this community, meeting the needs of broken and hurting people,” said Moore. “That’s the mission of the Army, to meet the needs of our most marginalized neighbors.”
