Salvation Army preps for move

The Salvation Army's Montgomery operations will temporarily move into the MAP Center while it renovates another building for permanent relocation, Maj. Harvey Johnson said.

The Salvation Army has been in negotiations to buy a building, where the organization will settle long term. Johnson expects renovations to the building to take about a year. He plans to announce that new location in early January.

The Salvation Army will use the MAP Center for office space, not a shelter. The MAP Center, at 12 E Delano Ave. in Montgomery, is associated with Mercy House.

The Salvation Army has been at its location since 1970 and has been active in the Montgomery area for more than 120 years. Its relocation will help make room for the Montgomery Whitewater project, expected to open in 2023.

The current location has 80 beds. The next permanent space will have close to the same number of beds but will transition to individual rooms rather than dormitories. The goal will be to have people stay at the shelter for a shorter length of time and to help them find permanent housing faster.

Shelter is of paramount importance over the coming days, as temperatures are expected to plummet to a low of 19 degrees on Thursday night, said Gary Goggins, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. Up to 35 mph wind gusts could put the wind chill around zero degrees.

More:Montgomery warming center available to all on cold nights

People who need somewhere to stay can go to the warming center at 3446 Le Bron Rd. The center is open from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m., when the temperature dips below 35 degrees.

Friday morning temperatures will be around 19 degrees, Goggins said. Saturday morning will be around 15 degrees. Christmas morning will be around 17 degrees, but it should get up to a high of 38 degrees.

"Some of these temperatures will be some of the coldest air that we've seen down here in quite some time," said Daniel Martin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Birmingham.

Christina Thornton, who runs the warming center, expects to be open for the next six days, including Christmas and Christmas Eve. Since the Salvation Army stopped accepting new clients in November, Thornton has seen an influx of new people who are staying at the center.

"This is an extreme weather forecast," Thornton said.

Thornton asks people who can help to donate coffee and snacks. She also asks that all 501c3s that help people who are homeless remain open to them during the daytime when the warming enter is closed.

Thornton also noted that the buses will not run Sunday and Monday. If people see anyone who is homeless on those days, she urges them to help that person get to the warming center.

People can also stay at Friendship Mission For Men, Friendship Mission for Women and Children and Mary Ellen's Hearth. Mary Ellen's Hearth is designed as transitional housing for women and their children. Women must apply before enrolling in the program.

While the Salvation Army has not been allowing new people into its shelter since about November, there are still some people staying there. Johnson's goal is for them to have other places to stay by Christmas.

He hopes to begin offering services again in early January.

Over the next year, the Salvation Army will try to find permanent housing for people who are homeless during this time. The organization is hiring two new people to work as life navigation coaches who will focus on social work and finding housing for people.

The organization will place people in hotels if they are unable to find them housing.

“But it’s an expensive proposition," Johnson said.

Salvation Army staff will move into the MAP Center at the beginning of January. The Salvation Army pays monthly rent to use the space.

The organization will launch a capital campaign to raise money for the new building.

“This is an exciting time for the Salvation Army," Johnson said.

Alex Gladden is the public safety reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Salvation Army preps for move, will open a renovated shelter in a year