A woman has written Mayor Holt concerning the conditions at the local Salvation Army Church shelter in Florence. She also sent copies to District 1 representative Kaytrina Simmons and to our blog. Ms. Simmons has answered the lady we will refer to as "M.D." Mayor Holt has not, at least when we last heard from M.D. Here is her letter:
Dear Mayor Holt,
Knowing what you all know about how people at the Salvation Army are treated & you still support giving them money. You all were elected to look out for us all in the community but its obvious you dont care about the homeless. Why cant the city build a human shelter thats not religious or apart of a church you built one for animals with no problem & you can buy fireworks for the 4th of July. I hope you can live with yourselves. Just last week a man spent over $100 for pizzas because they didn't feed us. They put us out & off the premises no matter the weather at 730. We can only stay 30 days & while their they only help the Christians who participate in their church activities& then you cant come back for 1 year. Do you even know the rules, what goes on & what the city is really supporting. I know they are Christians but they do some awful stuff to their residence. What do they need a kitchen for when they cook food & take it home or have volunteer appreciation cook out & offer us nothing. And the new lady does not try to help in any way. Shes mean like a warden & wont help us find housing after you have funded them.
You may want to look into this before it is publicly exposed that you knew & did nothing to help but gave them OUR money. No food most days& now were being told we have to leave Aug 1st. Where will we go?
Please dont take a stand on something without correct information. Ask us homeless folks we will tell you.
That is a sad commentary on the situation at this shelter. If others have accounts, either good or bad, if you send them, we will publish.
The Captain Handles the Homeless Situation
We were going to end our blog with the meme, but this is so upsetting we have to add that these Salvationists should be rode out of town on a rail, not receive any of our hard earned tax dollars! How can this cult treat people that way?!!!