Salvation Army developing plans to reopen homeless shelter

Proposals from the Salvation Army to begin upgrading its south Lawton facility and reactivate its homeless shelter have the support of the Homeless Action Committee.

That City Council-based committee was created to evaluate proposals as the City of Lawton launches a campaign to tackle problems associated with homelessness.

One proposal already being weighed by the City Council is an anti-camping ordinance that would make it illegal to sleep/camp in public places, to include in parks and on sidewalks. But, city officials said that leaves them with the problem of being able to offer homeless people an option for the night, at a time when there is limited indoor shelter space.

“We decided to tackle chronic homelessness,” said Capt. Bryan Brinlee, who with his wife Tracy runs the Lawton Salvation Army.

Brinlee said the Lawton Salvation Army has only paused operations at its shelter; the national office won’t let the facility be closed. What Brinlee is doing now is looking at options, and the option he and his staff are pursuing is a low-barrier shelter.

Low-barrier shelters are those that accept any homeless person, to include those with substance abuse problems.

“They don’t turn anyone away,” Brinlee said, explaining high-barrier shelters, by comparison, provide shelter only to those who have passed background and drug checks.

Low-barrier shelters have rules designed to provide a flexible environment that meets the needs of its tenants, even those with substance abuse problems, Brinlee and other experts say.

“We rescue them,” he said.

Brinlee said the Salvation Army’s shelter had been a high-barrier facility, offering 28 beds and operating at an annual cost of $240,000. A low-barrier shelter will cost twice as much, he said, explaining the need for specially-trained staff will increase operational costs.

But, the Salvation Army has determined a low-barrier shelter is the best way to help Lawton’s homeless population. There already are entities that address situational homelessness, those whose temporary homelessness is because of a crisis. Chronic homelessness — without a home for a long period of time or repeatedly — must be addressed differently because people in that category typically have problems that created the issue, such as mental illness or addiction.

Those problems mean different strategies. For example, Brlnlee said some people don’t want to be in a shelter, meaning there must be ways to approach them where they live. He said that is why strategies that work with situational homelessness won’t work with chronic homelessness.

“The treatment looks completely different,” he said, adding low-barrier shelters, which don’t exist in Lawton, are part of the solution. “I think low-barrier is crucial, crucial to combatting chronic homelessness.”

The Salvation Army is looking at multiple options as it begins restoring shelter operations.

Brinlee said the proposal would create two shelter spaces: remodeling and redesigning the upstairs floor of the Southwest E Avenue facility to hold 30 beds, and relocate the thrift store and remodel that downstairs space for 50 beds. It’s a total cost of $1.15 million for renovations.

But, the Salvation Army has a more immediate need: repairs to the cast iron sewer pipe in the Citadel Building. The iron pipes, which date to 1955, are deteriorating, Brinlee said, outlining repair would apply epoxy coating to the pipes for $72,000. Brinlee, with the support of the Homeless Action Committee, will ask the City Council to designate funding from the Community Development Block Grant Program for that cost.

Brinlee said once sewer pipes are repaired, he can begin fundraising for the next phase, restoring the shelter.

Committee members were receptive to the idea of low-barrier shelters, but admitted to concerns. Ward 2 Councilman/Committee Chair Kelly Harris said residents already are reporting with homeless people, and they want to be safe.

“Our concern as a council is public safety,” he said.