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Salvation Army unveils ‘Center of Hope’ housing shelter in Anaheim

October 10, 2023

Salvation Army officials and government dignitaries on Monday, Oct. 9, unveiled 72 new units of permanent supportive housing in Anaheim, part of a “Center of Hope” created to help people who have experienced homelessness navigate forward in their lives.

“That miracle of bringing hope, restoring hope to lives of people,” said Doug Riley, who oversees the western territories for the Salvation Army, “that’s what we are doing here.”

The $38 million building, which the Salvation Army will manage, is located next to the Christian nonprofit’s adult rehab center and 325-bed emergency shelter near Ball Road and Lewis Street. The permanent supportive housing units will allow people who are emerging from homelessness to receive rental subsidies and access other services.

Gabriena Halwani and her daughter, Synova Halwani, 2, share a laugh with Sal, the Salvation Army mascot, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A room inside The Salvation Army’s new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Basketball court outside The Salvation Army’s new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Michael Hunn, Chief Executive Officer of CalOptima, delivers a $4,100,000 check to The Salvation Army during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workout area inside The Salvation Army’s new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anaheim Councilmember Carlos Leon takes a selfie with Congressman Lou Correa, left, former U.S. Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez, center, and Second District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mayor Ashleigh Aitken smiles as the crowd sings Happy Birthday to her during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mayor Ashleigh Aitken and Kenneth Perine, with the Salvation Army, cut a ribbon for their new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Salvation Army’s Ben Hurst welcomes visitors to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new Center of Hope in Anaheim, CA, on Monday, October 9, 2023. The ceremony signifies the completion of a $38-million project delivering 72 units of new homeless Permanent Supportive Housing. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The housing project broke ground in January 2022. Ben Hurst, the Salvation Army’s director of operations in Orange County, said Monday it is the largest permanent supportive housing project in the county.

Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken said the emergency shelter next door, which opened in 2019, has served more than 1,300 people. This new addition will give people a new chance at life and bring stability and purpose, she said.

“We can no longer just offer a roof and four walls to solve homelessness,” Aitken said. “We need mental health support. We need life skills, and we need all the other services that keep people housed, stable and successful. Center of Hope will deliver on all of these, and it will change people’s lives in miraculous ways.”

The Center of Hope will eventually also include the Salvation Army’s Center for Applied Research and Innovation, which will look for best practices and new ideas to help people coming off the streets.

Riley said the catalyst for the project was Judge David Carter asking local officials five years ago to “do something” to combat homelessness in Orange County. He said they quickly emerged with the idea for the building that debuted on Monday.

The project received funding from federal, state and local governments, as well as from philanthropic fundraising.

The units will come with furniture, a kitchen and accessible showers, and there is a fitness center in the building.

Rep. Lou Correa said homelessness is the symptom of many problems, and he called housing with wraparound services such as this one a good solution.

“This is just the beginning,” Correa said. “We are gonna get busy and do more.”

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Salvation Army unveils ‘Center of Hope’ housing shelter in Anaheim

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