WHEELING — The Salvation Army of Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel and Tyler Counties paused the acceptance of new residents into its high barrier men’s shelter due to lack of adequate staffing and funding.

The Salvation Army started in January working with those residents in the shelter to help find more permanent housing. As of the end of January all residents staying in the shelter had relocated.

With reductions in public and private funding available specifically for sheltering, The Salvation Army is unable to continue to subsidize the shelter while growing debts mounted up. The shelter only housed an average of two to five men regularly. Moving the available resources over to homeless prevention became the best plan of action.

Lt. John Lawrence said this pause in services is part of a larger plan to allocate financial resources to do the most good in our community.

“The Salvation Army in Belmont County, Ohio’s low barrier shelter is 3.5 miles from our high barrier shelter in Wheeling and will continue to serve our area as it has for decades. Major Louis Parker and his team are prepared to continue sheltering as a greater part of The Salvation Army’s work in our area.”

Lawrence said the organization has seen an incredible increase in needs like food, rental, and utility assistance within all the counties served. The Salvation Army will continue serving the homeless in our community through our food pantry, clothing vouchers through its thrift store, and household goods vouchers for those in need. The Wheeling Salvation Army, as it has since it opened its doors as West Virginia’s first social services organization in 1883, will continue to thrive to meet the growing and changing needs of the community.

“We provide these services both in Wheeling and in Moundsville now five days a week with an additional full-time Social Services Worker being brought on board. The address for the service center in 248 Jefferson Avenue in Moundsville. Please call 304-233-4400 for an appointment in either Wheeling or Moundsville.

“In addition to these services on Tuesday’s we have a senior program, and women’s program in the morning hours which include lunch. On Tuesday evening we have a youth program which begins with a hot meal provided for area youth. These programs take place at our corps building located at 3333 Eoff Street in Wheeling.”

All clients seeking shelter will be referred to The Salvation Army in Bellaire in cooperation and coordination with The Salvation Army leadership at that command.