By: Antoinette Vitale
Fred enrolled in The Salvation Army’s Towers Center of Hope Men’s Transitional Housing program, Hope Crossing, in Jacksonville in April of 2019. His goal was to find permanent housing with wheelchair accessibility.
Hope Crossing provides transitional housing to men at The Towers Center of Hope and helps break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, situational and chronic homelessness through strength-based case management, community collaboration, and data-driven support. For those experiencing a recent eviction, domestic breakup, addiction issue, or any other housing crisis, The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida’s transitional housing provides homeless individuals with food and lodging, while equipping them with the resources and support needed to regain stability.
Fred previously lived in sub-standard housing before arriving at The Salvation Army shelter. At the time, he was using a walker that was not sufficient for his mobility needs. Fred is disabled due to a lower extremity amputation. Fortunately, a Salvation Army case manager assisted him in obtaining a motorized wheelchair, giving him mobility freedom.
After many months on the Section 8 waiting list, Fred received his Housing Choice Voucher from HUD in June of 2020. The social services team assisted him in finding housing by taking him to see apartments, completing the application process, and The Salvation Army provided the deposit and first month’s rent. His case management team secured furniture donations, including bedroom and living room furniture along with other household items to aid in Fred’s transition into permanent housing with necessary items.
Today, Fred has successfully achieved self-sufficiency in his own apartment that is ADA accessible. This is what success in Hope Crossing looks like.
Fred summed up his experience with The Salvation Army as a positive experience and stated, “you helped me with everything.”
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