BOLT Program closing at Harbor Light in Minneapolis
Roseville, Minn. – The Salvation Army is closing the Basics of Life Training (BOLT) Program at the Harbor Light Center in Minneapolis, as of May 1, 2015.
Of the 23 men and women who were enrolled, more than half have already found permanent or temporary housing with The Salvation Army or other providers. The rest are at Harbor Light, working with staff to meet their needs.
The men who were in BOLT were invited to join a similar program at our Adult Rehabilitation Center in the North Loop, some have chosen to join that program.
For the last 15 years, Harbor Light’s BOLT program has helped hundreds of people build life skills that allowed them to transition out of homelessness. The Salvation Army is grateful to staff who helped achieve these successes and to the donors who invested in this mission.
Eliminating the BOLT program frees up more than $200,000, which can now be used to provide more emergency housing, which is the most critical need for those who are served at Harbor Light.
The increasingly complex needs of the people experiencing homelessness make this a more challenging and expensive effort than ever before.
Additionally, the lack of affordable housing has area shelters at, or even over capacity, most of the time. Preventing overcrowding, while safely and effectively serving as many people as possible, is Harbor Light’s top priority.
Making strategic changes will ensure that Harbor Light continues to be effective as the largest homeless outreach facility in Minnesota.
Expanded fundraising will be necessary to continue this mission in the future, but The Salvation Army is committed to streamlining and improving programs to best advocate for the people they serve.
About The Twin Cities Salvation Army
The Twin Cities Salvation Army serves more than 218,000 people a year through its local centers of operation, including 15 housing and shelter facilities and eight food shelves. Daily it serves nearly 1,400 hot meals and shelters more than 1,000 people. More than 26,600 local volunteers help The Salvation Army provide these and other services, from child daycare to senior housing. Learn more about Salvation Army volunteer opportunities or make an online donation.