To the Editor:
The Salvation Army of Savannah is grateful to Katrina R. Bostick, the leadership of Family Promise of the Coastal Empire, and the members of their Board of Directors for taking the time to thoughtfully share their perspective regarding the proposed Center of Hope. We appreciate the respectful tone of their letter and their acknowledgment of the urgent need to address homelessness, addiction recovery, housing instability, workforce development, and family support services in our community.
We also hear and respect the concerns expressed about West Savannah's history, including issues related to disinvestment, housing inequities, infrastructure needs, and community development. These concerns deserve to be heard and discussed openly.
The Salvation Army believes that listening to residents and community stakeholders is an important part of any project intended to serve both individuals and neighborhoods.
The mission of the proposed Center of Hope is not simply to provide shelter. Our vision is to create a place of restoration where men, women, children, and families can receive emergency assistance, housing support, recovery services, case management, spiritual care, workforce development opportunities, and pathways toward long-term stability. The goal is not to place burdens on a community but to help people move from crisis to independence and hope.
As we continue this process, The Salvation Army will take advantage of every opportunity to engage with neighborhood residents, community organizations, civic leaders, and elected officials to better understand concerns and identify avenues for collaboration. We will operate with transparency and appropriately share information about the project, including developmental plans, community impact considerations, safety measures, and long-term accountability measures.
We too believe in community investment. Serving people experiencing homelessness and supporting the long-term health of West Savannah are complementary goals, not competing priorities. We will actively seek opportunities that contribute to neighborhood improvement and community well-being. The Salvation Army believes that the true measure of success for any project will be the transformation of lives. We are committed to helping individuals and families secure housing, maintain employment, strengthen recovery, reunify families, and achieve lasting stability.
We respectfully recognize Family Promise of the Coastal Empire as an esteemed partner in service to our neighbors. We remain grateful for the work we have shared and pledge to continue our valued partnership wherever possible so that together we can best serve individuals, families, and the broader Savannah community.
Finally, we remain open to ongoing conversations and constructive dialogue. The challenges facing our community are too significant for any single organization to address alone, and collaboration remains essential. Homelessness impacts every segment of our community. Solving this vital issue will require a collective response. We believe Savannah is strongest when organizations, residents, businesses, faith communities, and civic leaders work together to address both immediate human needs and long-term community flourishing.
We are grateful to Family Promise and everyone who has taken the time to engage in this important conversation. The Salvation Army believes we all share considerable common ground in our shared desire to see every individual and family in the greater Savannah community treated with respect and dignity and every neighborhood given the opportunity to thrive.
Respectfully,
Major Patrick Richmond
Corps Officer
The Salvation Army Savannah Corps
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Salvation Army seeks common ground on new center | Opinion
