The Salvation Army  The Salvation Army

In communities where resources are limited, it can be easy for adults to feel trapped in constant anxiety about the next day, stuck in a rut with no hope of increased happiness or fulfillment.

People from all walks of life come to The Salvation Army with their wounds and their wishes: a recently diagnosed HIV patient unable to afford treatment; a drug addict determined not spend another night passed out on the sidewalk; a lonely senior seeking friendship; an immigrant longing to understand the signs on the street.

No matter where they have been or what they are searching for, The Army opens its doors and welcomes them home.

ADULT EDUCATION

Not surprisingly for an organization based in and around New York City, home to an incredibly substantial immigrant population, English-as-a-Second-Language classes are an important Salvation Army service. Men and women from all over the world take advantage of the ESL programs that meet at our corps community centers. Students start with the basics: the alphabet, food, the weather, and then work up into more advanced skills—many hoping to some day leverage their fluency to get a higher paying job. General continuing education classes, high-school diploma equivalency classes (GEDs), and computer classes are also available at many community centers.

SENIORS

They say that youth is wasted on the young, and there may be some truth to that. With aging comes serenity, confidence and wisdom.

But there are also difficulties that come with age. Retirement means living on a fixed income—more often than not about $8,000 a year. Add to that: inevitable health problems, an increased sense of dependency, and the loneliness of living without a companion, as many seniors do.

That’s why The Salvation Army offers programs for seniors to help alleviate the stressful parts of aging, from free breakfasts to social-security advice, medical consultations, as well as recreational activities such as aerobics, board games and ping pong.

HIV/AIDS

Coping with HIV can be overwhelming. Even if you can afford the costly treatments and have loved ones to lean on, every day is a struggle to take the right medications at the right time, make countless doctors appointments, and remind yourself there is so much more to you than HIV.

It is even more difficult for those without a solid support network—those who don't understand the complicated healthcare system and don't have family to remind them they are special.

The Salvation Army's HIV/AIDS Services are meant for individuals whose socio-economic and mental-health backgrounds make living with HIV particularly daunting. With one HIV Health Home Center in the Bronx and one in Manhattan, The Salvation Army’s HIV Services has a caseload of nearly 500 clients and their families affected by the disease. Caseworkers monitor treatment adherence, offer advice and listen, while group activities such as budget classes help teach important life skills and provide a sense of community and understanding.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY SERVICES

People with disabilities need affection and companionship just like everyone else—they also need a little extra help. Even seemingly simple tasks like grabbing a bite to eat or deciding what clothes to wear can be a great challenge

The support that individuals with developmental disabilities require isn’t always available in the homes they are born into. At times, even the most devoted parents aren’t able to provide sufficient care, especially when they reach old age. In such cases, parents must turn to outside organizations for help. For the 69 individuals in the seven Salvation Army houses for adults with developmental disabilities in the Greater New York Division, The Salvation Army is a surrogate family. Funded by the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, each house is supervised by professionals 24 hours a day. Staff members help with day-to-day tasks; meet individually with residents, coaching them to further self sufficiency; arrange special excursions like vacations to upstate New York; and make sure each resident receives the love they deserve.