Salvation Army to Spend Federal Funds : Money Will Help Homeless Despite Separation of Church-State Warning

Although government officials have warned that federal funds used for social programs run by church-affiliated groups are in jeopardy, the Salvation Army will begin spending federal money to give temporary shelter to the homeless in Burbank next month.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development cautioned city and county officials that allocations to religious organizations may violate the constitutional doctrine of separation of church and state, said Linda Buehl, Burbank’s federal Community Development Block Grants coordinator.

Burbank’s proposal to give $10,000 to the Salvation Army to use for vouchers for motel rooms for homeless people was among the programs challenged.

However, Buehl said the city received notification from HUD last week that it could go ahead with the program under certain conditions.

Local governments determine how to distribute their share of the block grant funds, allocated annually on July 1. The money is not issued until HUD approves the projects, Buehl said.

The HUD warning was prompted by recent Supreme Court rulings governing the separation of church and state, the Burbank official said.

Funds for a Salvation Army anti-gang effort in Anaheim and an allocation to the Catholic Youth Organization for a new building in Glendale are in question.

Buehl said HUD officials determined that Burbank can give the Salvation Army federal funds to provide the motel vouchers if the Christian organization does not counsel the recipients.

Federal funds cannot be used for administrative costs or salaries or acquisition, construction or operation of churches, Buehl said.

Salvation Army officials had intended to use a small portion of the $10,000 for salaries, she said. The city and the organization must sign a revised contract, which, in turn, must be approved by the City Council before funds are distributed, Buehl said.

Officials in other cities in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas said they do not use federal money for programs run by church-affiliated groups.