Countywide : Salvation Army Expanding Services

The Salvation Army is doubling the number of its Orange County offices to help the growing number of families who need emergency assistance, officials announced.

With the opening of three new facilities in Brea, Huntington Beach and San Juan Capistrano, the organization expects to increase the number of people it can assist with food, clothing and housing.

“The recession has hit Orange County hard. The growth in poverty of families and children has risen dramatically,” said Dolores Barrett, director of family services for the Orange County Salvation Army.

For instance, Barrett said, the number of school-age children in the county needing free or low-cost lunches has risen from 55,000 to 109,000 during the last three years.

She added that the 1990 census does not provide a clear picture of the poverty level in Orange County because the problem has increased during the last two years, when recession hit California and resulted in increased unemployment.

The rapid growth of the county’s poor prompted the opening of the new offices despite a lack of additional funds to operate the centers.

“I guess we’re doing this on an act of faith,” said Warren Johnson, business administrator for the Orange County Salvation Army.

“The Army’s always faced with the dilemma of funding. Our worst fear is to have to say no to someone in need. With this expansion, we are trusting that the people of Orange County will help,” Johnson said.

Last year, the Salvation Army assisted 25,000 people with food, clothing and temporary housing.

With the expansion, it expects to double that number, he said.

Services provided by the Salvation Army include emergency shelter, transportation and food, as well as its counseling services and drug and substance abuse programs.

The organization also offers a Christmas food and toy program and an emergency shelter for single men, single women and families.

Last year the Santa Ana-based shelter temporarily housed 17,000 people.

Open houses at the three new Salvation Army facilities will be held Friday at 10 a.m.

The Salvation Army’s offices in Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Anaheim will also be open.

“The biggest attention will be in Brea, where Supervisor Gaddi Vasquez and Police Chief Mannie Ortega will attend,” Barrett said.

She said that involvement by local officials is important to the success of the ambitious expansion of Salvation Army services.

Already the Brea, Irvine and San Clemente police departments are working with the Salvation Army to help families find shelter after the Salvation Army offices are closed, according to Barrett.

The departments are able to screen people who come in looking for help to ascertain that they meet the Salvation Army guidelines for emergency assistance.

Then the families are given Salvation Army vouchers for a motel room.

“It’s this kind of cooperation with other local agencies that is helping us help more people,” Barrett said.