Rising housing prices have forced more men to seek shelter at The Salvation Army’s Waterston Centre in Regina.

The Salvation Army Waterston Centre reaches out to people who face multiple barriers in a very difficult world. 

The Centre provides/offers residential support and counsel to marginalized, displaced, and distressed men through the options of temporary, transitional and long-term lodging.

Lynn Jensen, hostel co-ordinator, provides a tour in an exclusive video below (shown after the 30sec ad*).

*The ad that appears in this video is provided by leaderpost.com and is not associated with The Salvation Army

Toronto, ON May 26, 2010 –The Salvation Army is reporting today that donations to its 2010 National Red Shield Campaign are approximately $1.15 million short of the $2.75 million goal needed to provide social services helping Canada’s poor and homeless. The campaign has collected an estimated 60 percent, or $1.6 million, of its goal going into its final week. The decline in giving is part of a larger trend seen most recently at Salvation Army centres and shelters across the country.

“In this final week of the Red Shield Campaign, we are asking the public to consider making a donation that will impact millions currently facing homelessness and poverty,” said Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary for Public Relations and Development of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. “All contributions go to work in the local community, where our services are needed more and more each day.”

The Salvation Army currently has 462 units providing social services within local communities across Canada. Most of these are small and operate with limited resources. In fact, 63 percent have a budget of less than $500,000 and more than 20 percent finished the 2009/2010 fiscal year with a deficit. Current projections put this year’s Red Shield Campaign on track with results from 2009, when The Salvation Army saw an 8.5 percent drop in donations from the previous year.

A report on homelessness and poverty, released at the beginning of May, revealed that close to one in nine adults in Canada has either experienced or come close to experiencing homelessness. The report also revealed that demand for general social services at The Salvation Army increased by more than 25 percent since 2008.

“Since the financial fallout, we’ve seen a larger national trend where request for social services have outpaced donation rates,” said Graham Moore. “We’ve seen a number of cases where the demand for service has led to fiscal uncertainty for local Salvation Army units.”

For more than 90 years, The National Red Shield Campaign has raised funds to support Salvation Army programs, aimed at the more than three million people living in poverty today. During this month, The Salvation Army is running several public service announcements that spotlight the issue of poverty. The advertising campaign’s message, that “Poverty shouldn’t be a life sentence,” has appeared in-print, online and on-air. Also, on May 19th, The Salvation Army hosted its largest single-day event, opening several shelters and outreach centres to the general public as part of its National Open House Day.

“As the largest provider of social services, outside the government, The Salvation Army is calling for new donations to help deliver critical services,” said Andrew Burditt, Territorial Public Relations Director for The Salvation Army. “We are calling on Canadians everywhere to dig deep and consider a donation that will go to work immediately within their local community.”

Money raised throughout the National Red Shield Campaign directly supports those living in poverty through Salvation Army services like emergency shelter care, substance abuse counselling and employment training.

Financial contributions can be made by visiting www.SalvationArmy.ca, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by mailing donations to The Salvation Army, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, ON M4H1P4 or by dropping off financial donations at the closet Salvation Army facility in your area.

Donors can also support the Red Shield Campaign By texting HOME to 45678 from most mobile carriers in Canada. A $5 donation will be added to your monthly mobile bill.

About The Red Shield Campaign:

The National Red Shield Campaign is an annual fundraising and public awareness campaign held annually throughout the month of May. The Salvation Army utilizes online, phone, direct mail and door-to-door appeals to solicit donations from generous Canadians. Giving to The Salvation Army offers an opportunity to invest in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community. 86 cents of every dollar raised by The Salvation Army goes directly to support those in need.

About The Salvation Army:

The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

- 30 -

The Salvation Army’s report on homelessness and poverty, and other news and information can be found online at www.SalvationArmy.ca

For further information please contact:

Andrew Burditt
Territorial Public Relations DirectorThe Salvation Army
416-845-8231
andrew_burditt@can.salvationarmy.org

Toronto, ON May 26, 2010 –The Salvation Army is reporting today that donations to its 2010 National Red Shield Campaign are approximately $1.15 million short of the $2.75 million goal needed to provide social services helping Canada’s poor and homeless. The campaign has collected an estimated 60 percent, or $1.6 million, of its goal going into its final week. The decline in giving is part of a larger trend seen most recently at Salvation Army centres and shelters across the country.

“In this final week of the Red Shield Campaign, we are asking the public to consider making a donation that will impact millions currently facing homelessness and poverty,” said Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary for Public Relations and Development of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda. “All contributions go to work in the local community, where our services are needed more and more each day.”

The Salvation Army currently has 462 units providing social services within local communities across Canada. Most of these are small and operate with limited resources. In fact, 63 percent have a budget of less than $500,000 and more than 20 percent finished the 2009/2010 fiscal year with a deficit. Current projections put this year’s Red Shield Campaign on track with results from 2009, when The Salvation Army saw an 8.5 percent drop in donations from the previous year.

A report on homelessness and poverty, released at the beginning of May, revealed that close to one in nine adults in Canada has either experienced or come close to experiencing homelessness. The report also revealed that demand for general social services at The Salvation Army increased by more than 25 percent since 2008.


“Since the financial fallout, we’ve seen a larger national trend where request for social services have outpaced donation rates,” said Graham Moore. “We’ve seen a number of cases where the demand for service has led to fiscal uncertainty for local Salvation Army units.”


For more than 90 years, The National Red Shield Campaign has raised funds to support Salvation Army programs, aimed at the more than three million people living in poverty today. During this month, The Salvation Army is running several public service announcements that spotlight the issue of poverty. The advertising campaign’s message, that “Poverty shouldn’t be a life sentence,” has appeared in-print, online and on-air. Also, on May 19th, The Salvation Army hosted its largest single-day event, opening several shelters and outreach centres to the general public as part of its National Open House Day.

“As the largest provider of social services, outside the government, The Salvation Army is calling for new donations to help deliver critical services,” said Andrew Burditt, Territorial Public Relations Director for The Salvation Army. “We are calling on Canadians everywhere to dig deep and consider a donation that will go to work immediately within their local community.”

Money raised throughout the National Red Shield Campaign directly supports those living in poverty through Salvation Army services like emergency shelter care, substance abuse counselling and employment training.

Financial contributions can be made by visiting www.SalvationArmy.ca, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by mailing donations to The Salvation Army, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, ON M4H1P4 or by dropping off financial donations at the closet Salvation Army facility in your area.

Donors can also support the Red Shield Campaign By texting HOME to 45678 from most mobile carriers in Canada. A $5 donation will be added to your monthly mobile bill.

About The Red Shield Campaign:
The National Red Shield Campaign is an annual fundraising and public awareness campaign held annually throughout the month of May. The Salvation Army utilizes online, phone, direct mail and door-to-door appeals to solicit donations from generous Canadians. Giving to The Salvation Army offers an opportunity to invest in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community. 86 cents of every dollar raised by The Salvation Army goes directly to support those in need.

About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

- 30 -

The Salvation Army’s report on homelessness and poverty, and other news and information can be found online at www.SalvationArmy.ca

For further information please contact:
Andrew Burditt
Territorial Public Relations Director
The Salvation Army
416-845-8231
andrew_burditt@can.salvationarmy.org

This year, through a series of true and false questions, The Salvation Army is releasing data to illustrate the public’s perception on homelessness and poverty. By releasing this data, our goal is to illustrate the realities, and lay to rest some commonly-held misconceptions, about homelessness and poverty. Read the full story

Toronto, ON, May 19, 2010 – For the second consecutive year, The Salvation Army is opening its doors to the public, inviting Canadians to tour its facilities and see firsthand the social services it provides to more than 1.5 million people in need each year. The Salvation Army’s 2010 National Open House is the largest one-day event culminating a month-long fundraising and public awareness campaign that seeks to educate the public about the cycle of poverty in Canada and raise funds to help combat the problem.

“Every day, The Salvation Army works in more than 400 local communities to deliver primary care services to the poor and homeless,” said Commissioner William W. Francis, Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army in Canada. “Today, we are inviting community members into our facilities, and we ask for their continued support.”

The Salvation Army’s 2010 National Open House Locations

View The Salvation Army’s 2010 National Open House Locations in a larger map

The national open house events will spotlight the issues of homelessness and poverty, which currently affect more than three million people across Canada. Nationwide, there are more than 21 open house events taking place in many provinces across Canada. Earlier this month, The Salvation Army released a report, entitled “Poverty shouldn’t be a life sentence.” The primary findings indicate that one out of every nine Canadian adults have experienced or come close to experiencing homelessness. The Salvation Army also released data showing that demand for general social services has increased by 26 percent since 2008.

“Homelessness and poverty are two problems growing in size,” said Commander Francis. “The Salvation Army serves the poor largely from contributions made by local community members. We invite all those who want to help in the fight against poverty to visit our centres on May 19th.”

Members of the public can visit Salvation Army community centres on May 19th. Visitors can participate in open house events and activities within their community by visiting www.SalvationArmy.ca.

The National Red Shield Campaign runs through May 31st. This year’s goal is to raise $2.75 million. Money raised during the campaign directly supports those living in poverty through Salvation Army social services like emergency shelter care, substance abuse counselling and employment training.

Financial contributions can be made by visiting www.SalvationArmy.ca, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by mailing donations to The Salvation Army, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, ON M4H1P4 or by dropping off financial donations at the closet Salvation Army facility in your area.

Donors can also support the May Red Shield Campaign by texting HOME to 45678 from most wireless phones in Canada. A $5 donation will be added to your monthly wireless phone bill.

About The Red Shield Campaign:
The National Red Shield Campaign is an annual fundraising and public awareness campaign held annually throughout the month of May. The Salvation Army utilizes online, phone, direct mail and door-to-door appeals to solicit donations from generous Canadians. Giving to The Salvation Army offers an opportunity to invest in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community. 86 cents of every dollar raised by The Salvation Army goes directly to support those in need. 


About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

- 30 -

News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca

For further information please contact:

Andrew Burditt
Territorial Public Relations Director
The Salvation Army
416-845-8231
andrew_burditt@can.salvationarmy.org

Largest Non-governmental Provider of Social Service in Canada Hosts Open House Events at Facilities Nationwide

WHO:  Salvation Army leaders and the general public, including local politicians, civic groups and community leaders

WHAT: On Wednesday, May 19th The Salvation Army will host a national open house, giving the media and public an opportunity to tour facilities and see, first-hand, the services provided to more than 1.5 million Canadians each year.
                                    
BACKGROUND: The National Open House is The Salvation Army’s largest one-day event, culminating a month-long fundraising campaign – the National Red Shield Campaign that seeks to educate the public about the cycle of poverty in Canada and raise funds to help combat the problem.

The open house events follow the release of a new Salvation Army report detailing the public’s perception on homelessness and poverty. More information about both the May Red Shield report and open house events can be found online at www.SalvationArmy.ca.

NATIONAL CONTACT:
Andrew Burditt
Territorial Public Relations Director

The Salvation Army
416-845-8231
andrew_burditt@can.salvationarmy.org

WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, May 19th at Salvation Army Centres and Shelters located across the country.


National Open House Locations

ALBERTA and Northern Territories
Centre of Hope
420 9 Avenue SE, Calgary
CONTACT: Captain Pam Goodyear

The Salvation Army Addictions & Residential Centre
9611 102 Avenue, Edmonton
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
CONTACT: Karen Diaper
780-920-8818

The Salvation Army
125 Elmore Drive, Fort McMurray
CONTACT: Joan Noble
780-791-3234

The Salvation Army Community Services
164 Stratton Way SE, Medicine Hat
CONTACT: Major James Hagglund
403-529-6883

The Salvation Army Community & Residential Services
4925 45th Street, Yellowknife
CONTACT: Major Dale Sobool
867-920-4673

BRITISH COLUMBIA:
Vancouver Harbour Light
119 E Cordova Street, Vancouver
CONTACT: Major Brian Venables
778-227-7291

Victoria Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre
525 Johnson Street, Victoria
CONTACT: Carol Barton
250-858-0808

MANITOBA:
Winnipeg Booth Centre
180 Henry Avenue, Winnipeg
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
CONTACT: Major Al Hoeft
204-946-9459
CONTACT: Captain Tiffany Marshall
204-781-9053

ONTARIO:
Barrie Bayside Mission Centre
16 Bayfield Street, Barrie
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
CONTACT: Major Roy Randell
705-728-3737

Kingston Harbour Light
562 Princess Street, Kingston
CONTACT: Major Gary Brown
613-572-4325

London Centre of Hope
281 Wellington Street, London
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM 
CONTACT: Nancy Powers
519-661-1359

Oakville Lighthouse Shelter
750 Redwood Square, Oakville
CONTACT: Rachel Sawatzky
905-339-2918

Ottawa Booth Centre
171 George Street, Ottawa
CONTACT: Michael Maidment
613-795-8898

 St. Catharines Community Resource Centre/Booth Centre
184 Church Street, St. Catharines
CONTACT: Major Michael Hennessy
905-684-7813

Toronto – The Gateway
107 Jarvis Street, Toronto
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
CONTACT: Pamela Loveless
416-545-7569
CONTACT: Captain John Murray
416-998-0117

Thunder Bay Community & Residential Services
545 Cumberland Street N, Thunder Bay
CONTACT: Major Merv Halvorsen
807-345-7319

QUEBEC:
L’Abri d’espoir
2000, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
CONTACT: Amelia Desjacques
514-554-5607

Montreal Booth Centre
880, rue Guy, Montréal
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
CONTACT: Michel Tasse
514-349-2848

Hôtellerie pour hommes & Maison Charlotte
14, Côte du Palais, Québec City
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
CONTACT: Melissa Chasse
418-806-9900

SASKATCHEWAN:
Regina Waterston Centre
1845 Osler St, Regina
11:00 am presentations with guided tours to follow
CONTACT: Pamela Snider
306-551-2230

Saskatoon Community Centre
339 Avenue C S, Saskatoon
CONTACT: Captain Rhonda Smith
306-242-6833



This year, through a series of true and false questions, The Salvation Army is releasing data to illustrate the public’s perception on homelessness and poverty. By releasing this data, our goal is to illustrate the realities, and lay to rest some commonly-held misconceptions, about homelessness and poverty. Read the full story

This year, through a series of true and false questions, The Salvation Army is releasing data to illustrate the public’s perception on homelessness and poverty. By releasing this data, our goal is to illustrate the realities, and lay to rest some commonly-held misconceptions, about homelessness and poverty. Ultimately, we hope this information will help the public understand why extreme homelessness and poverty persist.

The answer to the question can be found below.

Homelessness and poverty are two of the most critical social issues impacting millions of Canadians today. For many, severe homelessness and poverty can become a vicious cycle that devastates lives. The Salvation Army believes that poverty shouldn’t be a life sentence.

Read the full Poverty Shouldn’t be a Life Sentence Report below or download a copy.

The answer is True: In 2009, The Salvation Army saw demand increase by more than a quarter for general social services; the economic downturn has exacerbated long-existing problems like homelessness and poverty.

One in nine Canadians has been homeless or on the brink of homelessness, and in some provinces that figure is as high as one in five, as the effects of the recession linger.

Across the country, nearly three million people have landed on the street or come close to it — 12 per cent of all Canadians — according to a report expected to be released Monday by the Salvation Army.

“It certainly is sobering, it certainly is eye-opening,” says Andrew Burditt, public relations director for the Salvation Army in Canada. Read full story…

Source: GlobalNews