The Salvation Army operates a variety of specialized residential programs to meet the needs of families and individuals who are presently homeless. Currently in Philadelphia The Salvation Army operates three comprehensive shelter programs, two transitional housing programs, and a thirty day shelter program for troubled adolescents, with a total capacity for 385 people per night:

Bridge House
Eliza Shirley House
MacLachlan House
Red Shield Family Residence
F.A.I.T.H. Program (Family And Individual Transitional Housing)

Our comprehensive services are available to single-parent families, single women, single men, married couples, children awaiting placement in a foster home, and dual-parent families. If someone you care about is struggling to survive homelessness, direct him or her to The Salvation Army and we will do our best to help, either by providing shelter or, if necessary, referring your friend to another program. Just call (215) 787-2821 to get started.

The Salvation Army provides shelter and an array of supportive services for up to 120 homeless women, single parent families, and dual parent families each night at the Red Shield Family Residence.

The Red Shield Family Residence's overall program is designed to help people break out of the sort of "conspiracy" of circumstances and choices that led to their end predicament of homelessness. The typical service package delivered to a client at the Red Shield Family Residence includes:

* decent, safe, drug-free lodging
* 3 nutritious meals a day
* health care (weekly on-site clinic, operated by Philadelphia Health Services)
* individual case work/plan
* drug/alcohol counseling
* child care
* life skills workshops (eg. budgeting, nutrition, stress management, etc.)
* job placement
* parenting skills education
* Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) courses
* literacy/computer literacy courses
* information/referrals
* sexual/child abuse prevention workshops
* intensive "aftercare" support after graduation from the program
* referral to a broad network of other Salvation Army services and programs

The Child Care and Parenting Program is a unique feature of this shelter program and an essential component of the overall recovery approach. The Salvation Army operates a day and evening child care center that provides critically needed care for the children, who are facing the uncertainties, setbacks, fears, and stresses involved in homelessness. Provision of child care also enables the parents to invest themselves in: searches for employment and permanent living arrangements; medical or social service appointments; parenting education and life skills sessions; literacy or drug/alcohol recovery programs; classes at Community College of Philadelphia and other institutions; and emotional / physical respites from the sometimes overwhelming responsibility of caring for their children. The parenting education curriculum supports parents in learning how to nurture and effectively discipline their children through nonviolent, age-appropriate management techniques. One notable goal of these sessions is to prevent child abuse, as many of our adult residents are in need of supportive educational intervention.

The Salvation Army
Red Shield Family Residence
715 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123

(215) 787-2887

Eliza Shirley House

Bridge House

Eliza Shirley House Eliza Shirley House is an emergency shelter facility with two missions: to provide short term lodging, meals and immediate needs to displaced families, city wide on weekday nights and over holidays and weekends; and to provide longer term residential counseling, social work and referral services to homeless single and pregnant women 18 or older, 365 days a year. Women are admitted to Eliza Shirley after being referred from O.S.H.A. while others who arrive in the evening without referral are lodged (space permitting) only until O.S.H.A offices reopen. Eliza Shirley House provides safe, sanitary housing in a drug/alcohol-free environment. Nutritious meals are served and caring, experienced staff are on hand at all times. Qualified volunteers provide free legal services, medical care, and referral services. 1320 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 568 5111

Bridge House Bridge House is a residential rehabilitation program for women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. The program accepts single, homeless women with a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Each woman must prove abstinence from drugs and alcohol for a minimum of 90 days with corresponding attendance in A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous)/N.A.(Narcotics Anonymous) and outpatient drug/alcohol treatment programs prior to admission to Bridge House. The program has a capacity for 24 women. The average stay for each woman is one year. Resident on-site mentors help the women develop social skills, cultural values, and personal hygiene. The residents are required to actively participate in ongoing supportive treatment programs/services including A.A. or N.A., the G.E.D. program, vocational counseling, job placement, or other occupational training programs. Each woman must also invest 50% of her income into a savings plan which will ensure a financial resource for her to move into permanent housing at the end of her program period. 4050 Conshohocken Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131 (215) 473 4088

Family Services Through Family Services, The Salvation Army provides a wide spectrum of assistance for not only families, but individuals as well. The staff work with individuals and families who are experiencing financial difficulty due to illness, unemployment, fire, other natural disasters and those who are working to get off of welfare. Case workers help people in need obtain utility, food and rent assistance. They also offer counseling and support services to victims of domestic abuse as well as referrals to other agencies for additional support and assistance. Homeless prevention is very important to Family Services. To prevent homelessness caseworkers provide clients with money management counseling, schedule bill payments, make appointments and assist with other matters. 701 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19123 (215) 787 2821 (administrative offices)