Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta is constructing a 46,000 sq. ft., five-story addition to its current Red Shield Shelter, which will include 230 emergency shelter beds, an education and workforce development center, medical exam rooms, laundry rooms, and common areas. The project’s 230 new beds will house homeless men, with 69 beds specifically set aside for veterans.
Currently the shelter is experiencing cramped conditions and does not have enough separation between the male and female residents, creating safety concerns. With this addition, beds in the existing facility will be dedicated to women and families, eliminating the safety concern caused by overcrowding.
The education and workforce development center will provide courses and programs focused on GED preparation, computer literacy, job readiness, and entry-level job training. All unemployed residents will connect with the workforce development center during the intake process, and the center will partner with job placement agencies such as the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency and First Step Staffing to connect shelter residents with job opportunities. Located in an area with a 47.4% poverty rate, chronic homelessness has been a challenge facing Atlanta for years, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With homelessness increasing by 32% since 2019, shelters, including the Red Shield Shelter, are unable to meet the demand for emergency and transitional housing. On an annual basis, an estimated 6,000 homeless people in Atlanta do not receive needed shelter services. An estimated two thirds of homeless people in Atlanta are experiencing mental health or substance abuse issues, and 12% of the homeless population are veterans. Atlanta is in desperate need of additional capacity to shelter, treat, train, and reintegrate homeless individuals, synergistic to the services that the project will provide.
In a community with an unemployment rate of 23.9 percent, the project will create 23 full-time jobs. The organization prioritizes hiring former shelter residents, including for leadership positions. NMTC financing was provided by DV Community Investment ($9 million), Atlanta Emerging Markets ($15 million) and Truist Community Development Enterprises, LLC ($4 million).