Salvation Army Leader Gorman Outlines Strategy to Address U.S. Housing Crisis
The Salvation Army is expanding its focus on housing initiatives as part of a strategic response to a national homelessness crisis that saw an 18 percent increase between 2023 and 2024. The organization is scaling its infrastructure to meet the needs of the approximately 770,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in the United States, according to data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Institutional Response to Rising Homelessness
The Salvation Army currently manages a significant housing portfolio across the Western United States to address what leadership describes as a "concerning" national trend. According to Caring Magazine, the organization operates 14,803 beds nightly across its Western Territory. This capacity includes 50 emergency shelters, 59 transitional housing programs, and five permanent supportive housing programs.
The organization’s broader social services infrastructure in the region also features 18 Adult Rehabilitation Centers, 13 stand-alone addiction treatment programs, and 37 senior living residences. In fiscal year 2024, these combined efforts provided more than 3.8 million nights of lodging.
Addressing Structural Barriers
Internal analysis from the organization identifies a combination of systemic economic factors as the primary drivers of the current housing shortfall. According to Caring Magazine, these include stagnant wages, a lack of affordable rental units, and poor access to affordable health care.
The report highlights a disparity between national economic indicators and the reality for low-income earners: while the Bureau of Labor Statistics places the national average hourly wage at $35.68, a significant portion of the unhoused population earns less than $23 per hour, making the cost of rent and utilities unsustainable. Data indicates that 50 percent of renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities.
Clinical and Social Service Standards
The organization is moving to integrate mental health and addiction support into its housing model, citing research from JAMA Psychiatry that estimates 67 percent of individuals experiencing homelessness live with mental health disorders. Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that 38 percent of the unhoused population are dependent on alcohol, while 26 percent abuse drugs.
To combat these barriers, the Salvation Army has established a "program of excellence" framework. This internal standard has as many as 10 critical elements, including meeting an identified community need, the infusion of best practice thinking in the program design, and the provision of responsive spiritual care. The organization maintains that these environmental adjustments are necessary to assist individuals in overcoming physical, emotional, and spiritual obstacles to permanent housing.
Future developments in these programs remain subject to the organization’s ongoing assessment of local community requirements and its ability to secure resources for facility expansion.