Salvation Army breaks ground for new Montgomery County homeless shelter

CONROE, Texas - More than 100 civic leaders, elected officials and area residents turned out for a groundbreaking ceremony to launch development of a new 15,700-sq.ft. homeless shelter in Conroe, Texas. The facility, to be called The Wayne Bergstrom Center of Hope, will provide 112 beds for single men and women and four family rooms when construction is complete in early 2016.

“There is a tremendous need for a new facility as the homeless population continues to grow in Conroe,' said Captain Adrian Twinney, Conroe Corps Officer. 'Our current building is old, crowded and unable to meet the needs of the community.”

Less than half of the existing 13,000-sq.ft. facility is available for sheltering the homeless ? providing optimum housing for 44 people, according to Twinney. In recent cold weather, the Salvation Army staff has worked to accommodate nearly twice that number.

“The current facility is 30 years old, difficult to keep warm and is not flexible in accommodating families or single parents with children,“ said Twinney. “The new facility will allow us to better serve the needs of the families and the homeless community.“

That's important because as Montgomery County has grown, so has its homeless population. Nancy Heintz, president of the Montgomery County Homeless Coalition said the number of homeless in the county exceeds 1,000. A significant number of local households are at risk of homelessness.

According to the Montgomery County Community Development Housing Plan for 2013 to 2015, there are more than 8,000 households in the county living on less than $19,5e, these households are at risk of homelessness themselves if they encounter unexpected income loss.39 per year and another 10,500 households living on less than $32,565. At precariously low levels of income.

“The Salvation Army is the only full-service emergency shelter facility for Montgomery County providing meals and housing,' said Heintz. 'We are pleased to see the community respond. This is a much needed facility.“

Conroe Mayor Pro Tem Guy Martin agreed, saying that the expanded capacity is a benefit to the community and those in need. 'The Salvation Army is a nonprofit group that truly works to help people in our community,' he said. 'We are proud of what they are doing in Conroe.'

Actual construction on the $3.2 million project is set to begin in early May of this year. Upon completion in early 2016, the existing structure will be used for administration and education, according to Twinney. A variety of programs and life skill classes will be made available to the homeless to help them organize their lives, secure employment and re-enter society.

The new Center of Hope in Conroe is named for the late Wayne Bergstrom. Bergstrom formed part of The Salvation Army Conroe Corps Advisory Council and was a great supporter of the Army and its works in Montgomery County. Several members of his family were on hand at the groundbreaking ceremony to demonstrate support for the new Salvation Army project in his name.

“I am very pleased and proud of my father's commitment to the community and the Salvation Army,“ said his son Steve Bergstrom. “The family is glad to see his vision for an expanded facility coming to fruition.“

For more information about The Salvation Army of Greater Houston and the Conroe Corps Community Center, please visit SalvationArmyHouston.org.