Jefferson City's Center of Hope sees success with Salvation Army's pathway of hope program

Jefferson City — This week, Sinclair is teaming up with the Salvation Army to launch Sinclair Cares: from Homeless to Hope, a nationwide initiative dedicated to raising awareness about homelessness.

Over a decade ago the Salvation Army started its Pathway of Hope initiative dedicated to providing specific care to people in need for long-term success.

The Jefferson City Center of Hope Director Brian Vogeler says it aims to give people tools to succeed away from the organization.

“It’s a holistic approach and we take this approach, and it’s mental, physical spiritual," Vogeler said.

In 2011, the Salvation Army started its Pathway of Hope initiative, which the Jefferson City Center describes as its approach to case management.

“We love to see them when they come and visit but we want to make sure it's just a visit. We try to get them everything they need so they're not coming back and trying to stay in the shelter," said Vogeler.

He says each person coming to the shelter gets a case manager who outlines goals and the path to achieving them

“A lot of times homelessness is not the root cause but a symptom of some of their root causes," Vogeler explained.

The Jefferson City Center adopted the initiative approximately two to three years ago, although they’ve had programs related to it for almost a decade.

“The national average for success rate at a homeless shelter is about 38% to 40%. We're sitting on about 50% for individuals and 58% for our families," Vogeler stated.

Members of the program truly feel the value of the help they’ve received in providing a path to success.

One resident says the program got her from sleeping at bus stops to having at one point three jobs.

“It actually means a lot because if it wasn't for them and especially Mr. Brian and Miss Kathy. (If) it wasn't for them then I would still be on the streets right now, and I'd still be sleeping out the bus stops," a Center of Hope Resident said.

“It's kind of really a Rewarding thing too because you start to see them take ownership and you start to see them hit those goals and hit those steps and start achieving on their own and it's you know. Then again now you're empowering them to go out and do this on their own," Vogeler said.

The program aims for independence, but completion doesn’t end the connection.

The Salvation Army says former residents still communicate with their case managers for assistance or simply to share their life success stories.