The Salvation Army USA

Crime Victim Needing Sanctuary - "volunteer" staff ? The Salvation Army does not use any of the people staying at their shelters as "volunteers". Actually, residents in the shelter are NOT allowed to be volunteers or help with projects in the shelter. They ARE required to keep their area clean. Since TSA houses children naturally they do background checks to ensure no sex offenders, someone convicted of a violent crime or certain level drug offenders sleep overnight in the facility. This is to protect THE CHILDREN living at the shelter - not to hinder anyone from getting a job. The police are ALWAYS called for medical emergencies and violent behavior.

Under no circumstances would a "volunteer" be encouraged or even ALLOWED to follow residents. Volunteers are monitored - given criminal background checks - again to protect the clients and children. Volunteers are always supervised by a staff member and do things such as provide parties for the children and adult residents, serve meals, organize the clothing closet, etc. Staff may be what you deem control freaks. Imagine you are in charge of a shelter where close to 300 people sleep each night. You have to have rules - and the rules have to be followed for EVERYONE's safety - including you when you stay there.

It is true that some women are given cots or mats to sleep on. That happens when all the beds are full. The Salvation Army provides shelter to as many people as we can - which at times results in women having to sleep on mats or cots. The ARCH next door takes in as many men as they can fit into their overflow area and TSA does the same for women. On cold nights both shelters will be filled to the brim with those experiencing homelessness. Better to sleep inside on a cot or mat than be outside in below freezing weather.

Staff members have a calling to work with this population. It is not something you do for the money, or to gain "power" over anyone. Not all are of the Christian faith - which is not a requirement to be employed by TSA or to be sheltered at any of TSA's facilities. Nor is anyone forced to attend church services. They are given the opportunity to attend IF THEY WISH.

Enough said - just please get your facts straight before you post things like this. You may not have liked the rules, the food, the beds at TSA. But it sure as heck beat being on the streets.

I know the Salvation Army in Austin has volunteer staff members who are convicts, former prostitutes and drug addicts with no training or ability to manage the population they serve. Residents of the facility have experienced 'laying on of the hands' rather than medical treatment, threats of eviction if they report scandalous conditions including shared housing with patients who are ill and a general population, food quality and hygiene are dangerous to health. The model for the Army, thought by many to aid those who are endangered or victims of disaster is not the reality of the present situation . It seems the Army selects individuals who should be sent to drunk tanks or to the CDC for testing. It is a horrifying place which leaves many helpless, non criminal, residents traumatized and exploited by other residents and staff. Many of the staff exhibit rage and hatred toward the residents. The personal religious hysteria expressed by Army Members is cruel and hurtful . Army members come from the gutter and nurtures ghetto values. To say the army has good food and bedding is a blatant lie, people are given mats on the floor, women in safe sleep were housed in the clinic corridor where deliverymen opened the door at night to bring in food, Plastic cots with stains are the "great beds" other beds are metal with plastic mattresses lined so closely to one another women are inches away from each other. The staff are control freaks and have punitive mentalities treating residents as if they are criminals in need of punishment, they are capricious in the manner in which rules are enforced. I believe this facility should be closed, they take in more people than for whom they have space, they admit dangerous drug addicts and felons mixing these violent people with those who have unfortunate financial circumstances or medical problems which are not created by drugs. Although the city of Austin makes regular EMS visits to the Salvation Army, the EMS and Police are not always called for drug overdoses or violence erupting in the facility
Another danger to public health is the admission of men and women urinating themselves, this is not always an alcohol related problem it can be caused by contagious kidney disease. Mold, mildew and pigeon droppings on window sill adjacent to beds are also a health hazzard. The facility should be torn down. The regulations of the Army impede progress on job searches, job search logs are used to check up on residents, thereby stigmatizing job seekers. Some believe this check up is a form of stalking. Residents who arrive in the facility with packages are accused of theft by staff. The people in this cult require helplessness because they crave power more than salvation. The goodwill extended by the Army is a front for vicarious thrill seekers who wallow in the despair of others, only by spending their time with tragedy and ### of the earth do the Army members achieve a sense of power and status. When residents write complaints or make statements they will call the police they are asked to leave. Only a few show kindness to the residents. Some residents report being followed by volunteers in situations which are not circumstantial. Exposure to this paramilitary organization is corrosive, it is better to sleep in the street than enter that building.

As far as I'm concered, I've talked to dozens and dozens of people that stay at that shelter and they said there is no other place in Austin that can match the great food, bedding, help and comfort that the downtown Salvation Army provides. They prefer The Salvation Army over the Arch and other places.