Augusta Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposed Salvation Army Shelter Location
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Salvation Army’s plan to build a new Center of Hope homeless shelter on Hale Street, directly across from the fairgrounds, has sparked debate among nearby residents who question whether the site is the right fit.
The existing shelter, which dates back to the 1970s, is widely regarded as outdated, prompting the Salvation Army to seek a new facility to better serve the city’s homeless population. However, residents in the surrounding Olde Town neighborhood say the proposed location raises significant concerns.
“I feel like it needs to be something more to be done other than putting a new homeless shelter down here. We need stores. We don’t have any grocery stores down here. There’s nothing,” said resident Miyoko Rhodes, reflecting frustration with the area’s lack of amenities.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson, who represents the district and is a leading advocate for homeless services, acknowledges the need for both day centers and overnight shelters. However, he said the question remains whether the Hale Street site is the best location for the new shelter.
“There’s room for day centers. There’s room for overnight shelters, but the question will always remain: is this the best location for it? Not only do we have May Park in the neighborhood, but you also have the fairgrounds,” Johnson said.
May Park, situated just a block away from the proposed shelter site, has become a focal point of concern for local residents, who fear the shelter could impact community safety and quality of life. A group of citizens from Olde Town has formally communicated their reservations to the Augusta commissioners, emphasizing that while they support services for the unhoused, this particular site poses challenges related to safety, access, and community impact.
Residents also argue that locating the shelter closer to more resources in the city would be more effective. Rhodes added, “They should put it more up in the city where they can have more resources. They keep saying by May Park. There’s nothing by May Park. Speaking of May Park, May Park needs to be better.”
Commissioner Johnson expressed understanding for the concerns of the neighborhood, noting, “That is an area folks have spent a lot of time investing their life savings into, and they have valid concerns about what a shelter in their backyards could mean for them.”
The Augusta-Richmond County Commission is scheduled to hear from Olde Town residents during their meeting on Tuesday, where the community will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposal. While residents support the idea of a new shelter, they maintain that the Hale Street location may not be the most suitable site.
