AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Austin's Salvation Army says it will close its downtown Austin homeless shelter next month.
In a statement, officials say the facility's age is beginning to impact the organization's ability to serve the community's needs. "The pandemic has brought into sharp focus the challenges of operating the facility with the staff and support necessary, and it is no longer tenable to continue investing in the necessary infrastructure."
The downtown facility, located at 8th Street and Neches, first opened in 1988.
"The Salvation Army is called to be good stewards of every dollar entrusted to them," the statement continues. "Leadership believes closing this facility now will allow them to ultimately provide enhanced care for a meaningful number of families, women, and children in need."
The organization is celebrating the third birthday of its Rathgeber Center for Families, located in East Austin, which opened in February 2020 just as the pandemic was beginning to take hold. In that three year span, the Rathgeber Center has served more than 1,000 individuals - 448 adults and 620 children in 328 households.
No specific closing date was specified in the announcement. Officials say they'll work closely with community partners to "make sure everyone currently in the downtown shelter is relocated and continues to have access to the care and services they need."
For more information on the services provided by the Salvation Army, please visit SalvationArmyAustin.org.
