Pennyrile Area Development District officials took in a major presentation Monday afternoon, hearing critical updates about the Hopkinsville Corps of the Salvation Army.
Officer and Lieutenant David Donegan noted that the “little shelter that sits near 7th and Clay streets” stays far busier than anyone might generally realize, and to many, it means more than a roof and walls.
Because of this belief, and these concerns, Donegan said he and his board stay proactive through efforts like the Rapid Rehousing Program and Permanent Supporting Housing — both of which embrace those who may have lost their way not just in Hopkinsville, but in the entire Pennyrile district.
Furthermore, Donegan said his Board of Directors is in the middle of pursuing a renovation of its Hopkinsville base of operations — and mainly because “it’s time.” The shelter was built in 1975, and the Life Navigation Center was built 71 years ago.
The hope, he said, is to eventually complete a “Community Impact Center,” or a “Life Navigation Center.”
Knowing that Salvation Army officers are often rotated to different communities based on need, Donegan said he wasn’t sure the effort could be completed during his tenure in Christian County.
However, revealed schematics show hope for an improved dining room, expanded meeting rooms, a laundry, a children’s space, and more.
Theoretically, Donegan added that there would be easily accessible men’s and women’s dorms, as well as family rooms, so that manageable hours of operation — as well as some comfort — could be afforded in a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week opportunity.
According to him, a typical month at the Salvation Army looks like:
+ 4,226 lunches from “the little soup kitchen,” and this does not include breakfast and dinners for clients
+ 3,969 bags of groceries handed out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, serving more than 760 families
+ 758 nights of shelter, and not just for homeless men and women, but also children who are attending local schools
In the past year, Donegan added that his office assisted 88 homeless veterans living on the streets, and that 120 families in the last 12 months are no longer homeless — with less than 1% returning to chronic homelessness during that time.
Having operated for more than eight decades, Donegan closed by saying that nine households will be re-homed this month alone, and annually the Hopkinsville Salvation Army spends $3.5 million paying rent, utilities and various deposits to keep families safe and secure.
