September 15, 2015
Army offers hope to Lakeland’s homeless
By Dan Childs
Southern Spirit staff
The largest Salvation Army
expansion project ever undertaken
in the Florida Division continues to
expand.
The Lakeland command in February
dedicated the completion of the first
phase of construction for The George
W. Jenkins Community of Hope, a
$20 million complex geared to serve
homeless families with children. The
complex, set on a 49-acre campus,
includes emergency family efficiencies,
a family living program and a HALO
child enrichment center.
Preliminary work is underway
on additional Community of Hope
components. The next project to be
built will be an emergency disaster and
maintenance warehouse. The Army in
Lakeland is working with state officials
to finalize funding through Florida’s
Emergency Management Division.
Additional future projects will include
a program office and laundry, a multipurpose facility that includes chapel,
classrooms and a gym and additions
to the existing emergency family
efficiencies and family living triplexes.
The emergency efficiencies will be
expanded by 10 units, and 15 units will
be added to the family living facility.
Currently, the Community of Hope
facility has 20 units designated as
emergency family efficiencies and 21
units for the family living program. The
child enrichment center has a licensed
capacity for 120 children and will give
resident parents the opportunity to
pursue employment opportunities.
3
The George W. Jenkins
Community of Hope in Lakeland,
Florida, is designed to create
a spirit of hope for homeless
families with children and help
equip them for an independent
future.
The Community of Hope w 0