The Salvation Army’s J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center Completes Shelter Renovations
Region’s largest social services organization unveils efforts to address homelessness in Fort Worth in official ribbon cutting
FORT WORTH, Texas (July 16, 2024) – The Salvation Army J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center in Fort Worth is unveiling extensive renovations on its family shelter in a renovation celebration on July 23, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. As The Salvation Army’s hub for Tarrant County operations, the Mabee Center’s upgrades aim to enhance the transformative services the shelter has provided to the community since 1989, while expanding The Salvation Army's commitment to combatting poverty, addiction, and homelessness.
In response to a rise in the family homelessness rate in Tarrant County, The Salvation Army of North Texas made a strategic shift in 2017 to convert the individual men’s and women's shelters into a family shelter. The change allowed the facility to provide families with children access to safe temporary shelter — open year-round for emergency situations — and comprehensive case management, job training, daily warm meals, and coordinated services aimed at reducing and preventing homelessness in Tarrant County.
The renovations come at a critical time as homelessness continues to be a pressing issue in North Texas. Recent data from the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition revealed that 5,814 households experienced homelessness in Tarrant and Parker Counties in 2023.
"It is a privilege to expand our doors and further our mission of serving families experiencing homelessness in Tarrant County," Major Paul McFarland, area commander of The Salvation Army of North Texas, said. "The renovations represent our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of our community and ensuring that all those in need have access to safe shelter and support services."
Over the past 16 months, the Mabee Social Service Center, located at 1855 E. Lancaster Avenue, has been operating at two- to four-times capacity, often serving as the first point of contact for local families in need of emergency shelter. When additional funding became available for renovations, The Salvation Army chose this pathway forward to better serve the community.
The recent renovations will improve safety, create more privacy, and maintain bed capacity for families and individuals. Additional onsite services include the food pantry, ministry services, residential addiction recovery programs, and comprehensive case management.
Specialized programs offered at the Mabee Center include the START (Stabilizing to Achieve Richer Tomorrows) program, which is available to individual men and women who are stuck in a repetitive cycle of homelessness; the Simon Transitional Housing program, designed for single women who have a dual diagnosis of mental illness and drug/alcohol addiction; and the First Choice program, a licensed long-term substance abuse treatment program for women with children who are minors.
"We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, the City of Fort Worth, and our community partners for their unwavering support throughout this process," Deborah Bullock, The Salvation Army’s director of adult and family services for Tarrant and Ellis Counties, said. "Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of our most vulnerable populations in North Texas. "
In response to the challenges posed by inflation, rising costs, and the ending of COVID-era federal funding and protections, The Salvation Army of North Texas has been adapting and expanding its resources the past few years. Each week, The Salvation Army of North Texas provides meals to 10,000 people through its 12 food pantries, offers assistance to 500 individuals through its three recovery programs, and shelters 1,300 people across its six shelters and senior living centers.
To learn more about The Salvation Army of North Texas’ services, visit SalvationArmyNorthTexas.org.