Faith&Friends
COMMON GROUND
Love in Any Language The Booth Centre offers temporary housing, three meals a day, private rooms and the support of intervention workers
“A Place of Refuge” The Salvation Army helps Canadians in need succeed. But the help goes both ways, as Richard and Fleurette can attest.
T
by Ursula Leonowicz
oday, The Salvation Army provides 5,500 beds each night for men, women, youth and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Last year, 2.8 million free meals were served at the Army’s shelters and food service programs, including the Booth Centre in Montreal. The Booth Centre offers temporary housing, three meals a day, private rooms and the support of intervention workers for men 18 and over who are experiencing housing difficulties and problems such as alcoholism, substanceuse disorders or mental illness. It
serves as a valuable example of The Salvation Army’s work, supporting vulnerable communities across Canada, and their army of givers who make it possible. But while the Army provides hope for those in need, this is not limited to those entering its doors. Here are just two examples of how individuals with different life experiences have been helped: The Client Richard has been staying at The Salvation Army’s Booth Centre in Montreal for the past three months. With three more to go before mov-
faithandfriends.ca I APRIL 2022
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