A Roof Over Their Heads

The Salvation Army in Pottstown, Pa., offers more than a shelter to people who are homeless.

Charles Moore and his family used to be able to afford housing, but their life changed when his wife, Tiara, suffered a devastating stroke and couldn’t return to work. All the family had to live on was his modest disability check each month.

“That’s how we ended up homeless,” Charles says. “We didn’t have enough to pay the bills and the rent.”

Charles moved the family, including daughters Sharima, 9, and Shakia, 8, from North Carolina to the Philadelphia area, where he had family. They eventually ended up in a Salvation Army family shelter in Pottstown, Pa., about 40 miles northwest of Philly.

“They’ve done a lot for us at The Salvation Army,” Charles says. “We have a roof over our heads and the kids are satisfied. We’re not sleeping in a car. We did do that a couple of nights. It’s better than sitting in a park all day.

“They said we can be here until we can put our hands on something that we can afford. We need all the help we can get. It’s been a long road, and The Salvation Army took a big load off us. God has given me the faith and strength to hold on. This is home for us until we find something.”

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.”

—Leviticus 25:35 (ESV)

The root causes

A large red shield is emblazoned on the door of the shelter, located behind the corps. With 11 rooms and a capacity of 44 residents, it’s the largest shelter in Montgomery County. “It’s usually full all the time,” says Major Ida Perez, the corps officer in Pottstown. “I’m told

the waiting list can sometimes be as many as 60 families.” Wendy Egolf, the shelter director, says most families stay for two or three months, but the time can vary depending on the barriers they may face. The Salvation Army refers residents to various community resources, while offering a place to stay and spiritual guidance if they ask.

“Some people have never had security before so when they get into a place that has some structure and a routine and guidelines and support, they like it here,” Egolf says. “Sometimes people find it hard to leave.”

The rising cost of housing is behind the homelessness problem. Perez rarely sees rents for less than $1,500 a month in Pottstown. People are spending more than half of their income on housing, she says, instead of about 30%, the amount that experts often say should be budgeted for the purpose.

“Everything is going into rent,” Perez says. “The costs are extreme. Most families are within two weeks of being homeless. If they lose pay for two pay periods, the chances are they could go into homelessness.”

Egolf agrees that the problem is the lack of affordable housing. “Housing is at a premium. We’re paying top-dollar prices now since COVID. All the rents have gone up.”

Giving them hope

In Montgomery County, the homelessness problem centers around Pottstown, a small town with a population of 23,000, where many live in “tent cities” that pop up from time to time. Many from the encampments come to a Wednesday soup kitchen offered at The Salvation Army that can draw up to 150 people

“They gather outside beforehand, and I pray with them,” Perez says. “I am available to talk to them and kind of meet them where they are. Because everyone knows The Salvation Army, I do get to meet the people from the tent cities, and everyone refers them over. I’m very hands-on. Social services can be done by volunteers, but I make a point of always being there so I can talk to people.”

Perez invites homeless people to attend church on Sundays, but given their transient nature, some attend and then disappear to the next town or opportunity.

When she does get a chance to chat, Perez reassures them that they’re not alone and someone cares at The Salvation Army.

“The first line the enemy gives them is that they’re by themselves and there’s nobody around and things are hopeless,” she says. “My first step is always to remind them that we may not be able to offer them the thousands of dollars they need to get into a new place, but for this one moment, they can breathe and cry and tell me anything they need to tell me.”

Egolf, who has been the shelter director for 15 years, gets involved in the lives of the residents to talk about their options. The Salvation Army’s goal is to help people overcome the obstacles keeping them from permanent housing.

“I really like the fact that the shelter gives us the opportunity to be here for families and support them and give them the tools and resources they need,” she says. “We put some support systems in place, so they are prepared to be independent with those supports.”

Help is here

Homeless families are also sometimes housed at other churches around town, but there is help coming in Pottstown. A local organization, Beacon of Hope, plans to build a 45-room shelter like The Salvation Army’s facility that will also offer services and help in the battle against homelessness.

Egolf leads The Salvation Army’s hugely successful Pottstown Works program, which grew out of the shelter and helps prepare people for sustainable jobs. Pottstown Works assists with everything from résumé writing to interview skills, right down to the proper attire and handshake.

“The good news about Pottstown Works is we stay with people,” Egolf says. “We’re going to help them build their résumé and get a job, and once they do, if they’re willing, we’ll stay in their lives.”

Pottstown Works helps program graduates with issues like child care, transportation, and even career advancement long after they find work, Egolf says. “Our graduates are contributing members of the community. We hear from them and they’re contributing wherever they are.”

Shelter residents are not required to attend church or other ministries of The Salvation Army, but Egolf lets them know about all the offerings. For example, a mother in the shelter inquired recently about attending a Bible study at the corps, and her child heard about Salvation Army summer camp and the various children’s ministries.

“Whatever happens here at the corps, we make that totally available to any of the residents here at the shelter.”

It’s her career now

Egolf once thought she would only be with The Salvation Army for three years to start a transitional housing program, but God clearly had other plans. Today, she handles all the housing programs at the corps, the shelter, Pottstown Works, and the Pathway of Hope program.

“For me, this is a mission,” she says. “God led me here for sure.” The success stories are what keep Egolf going. Many years ago a couple came to the shelter with a nonverbal special-needs daughter. During the stay, the husband left his wife, who had never managed the family finances and had no resources. The Salvation Army helped get the woman and her daughter into housing and connected them to other programs.

Egolf says the woman has lived in the same house for 18 years and pays her bills on time—and is now returning the favor at The Salvation Army.

“She has volunteered here and helped out in our food pantry,” Egolf says. “My goal is to be able to encourage people to reach their greatest potential and to enjoy life and not to struggle so much.”