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The Salvation Army USA
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The Salvation Army USA

501 E 8th St, Austin, TX, 78701, US
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12:29 am EDT

The Salvation Army USA - Being removed from the salvation army shelter

On June 26th 2022 at around 8:00 p.m. I was sitting in the bathroom praying to myself and practicing mindfulness when I was confronted by security staff at salvation army downtown Austin who was the company with the floor staff along with a APD officer at that moment I was notified that I was being removed from the center and kicked out I asked why and they said because I got caught using drugs or something like that and that such things were found in my proximity. I tried to confront matter with question because of the lack of information given in regards to the circumstances because they were not true and violated my safety my security. However they did not elaborate in detail more matters in regards to these allegations in which they are alleging even when I called back and asked they have acted very evasive. Such matters or negligent in nature and made on irrational grounds with no true rational connection. Such action is caused erroraneous deprivation.

They said to me that such rationale rested on the allegations of another client in the facility however such matters seem to be hearsay and a act of discrimination in regards to me being gay and practicing my belief.

I finally quite rude that they choose a time that I was in a moment of prayer meditation and mindfulness to intrude upon me and impose such things towards me leaving me out in the street again when I haven't been caught by anybody using drugs nor have I used drugs.

The allegation of them finding elicits in my proximity seem to be irrational under the grounds that it is an open facility and anybody could have placed something somewhere that could leave anybody vulnerable to such disposition unjustly. And when I asked to state exactly where this was and which I was caught or such things were found they would not review such matters to me in front of an officer of the law. I find it quite odd that if I was doing something so wrong why wasn't the law called before and why can't such relevance be brought into light in regards to the matters that have been imposed upon me.

This action seems to be unjust unfair the deprivation and prejudice.

Desired outcome: I would like to be placed back into the salvation army and have my bed back my caseworker back and my placement back

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12:03 pm EDT

The Salvation Army USA - Ms. Harris on 501 E 8th St

Ms. Harris works on 501 e 8th st in Austin TX Ms. Harris is very, very rude she brings family problem to work she is not professional at all she is not supposed to bring her life to work I have been at salvation army on 501 e 8th st bout this staff very low I see drinking letting people come in all hours of the night my name is Billie Pope I'm mental how they treat us very sad staff take up for staff when wrong that the problem at salvation army were this staff need to be removed they better than this a lot of stuff going on in here please help thank u Billie Pope

Desired outcome: Need better staff

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2:13 pm EDT
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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

The Salvation Army USA - food handling/preparing/serving

I have to live here due to personal issues. And prepare for a major shock. A friend worked in the kitchen and told me about food safety/handling/preparing/serving procedures. I believe it too and wouldn't be surprised. These people shouldn't even be in the kitchen unless they have a certificate or completed a course or something on food. I was shocked to find out that he homeless/community get hard bread and the not so good food like the families with children do. The staff eat and drink while working at times. They don't constantly change gloves or wash thier hands enough. They don't sanitize tables most of the times, or the counters properly, due to short staffing. The meats aren't cooked properly. They don't thaw meat in the fridge and leave it out for hours and or prepare it real early and leave it there until it needs to be heated again. Sometimes I ask myself, Don't these staff care wether the kids eat or not? Can't they serve different foods that adults and kids would eat so they don't go to bed hungry? Does anyone even care? Where's the Cristiantianity here? I think this place needs to be inspected by the state of Texas Health cause what you don't know can always hurt you. I've had fried fish and the inside was slimy. The chicken is pink in the inside, salad isn't fresh. The milks are expired sometimes. They don't care and have the grievence forms for people to fill out, but It's still the same. (Do they even consider talking to you about them if you put your name on it? ...NO. ) You just feel like hopeless or just deal with it and say nothing to prevent problems. and there has been numerous people sick due to stomachaches. I have vomited due to this. Weightloss is a big problem in children that live here, cause they don't eat the food they serve, which can be spicy or bland or just adult food. They don't have alternatives for kids so some go without eating, (except peanut butter and jelly on some bread with hundred of seeds kids don't like.) They don't dry the trays after cleaning them either and wrap them up (moisture=bacteria). This place is even understaffed, to top it all. They're not following by food saftey book. One of them had alcohol in a cup. I was told way too much that I now go elsewhere for food. I can't go on and on cause it boils my blood, but if you have a choice AVOID EATING HERE! If you are Food Inspector come and see what's cooking in the Salvation Army. I hope this gets solved.

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Give Me Your Eyes
1806 Briarwood, US
Jun 10, 2014 5:00 pm EDT

Crime Victim Needing Sanctuary - "volunteer" staff ? The Salvation Army does not use any of the people staying at their shelters as "volunteers". Actually, residents in the shelter are NOT allowed to be volunteers or help with projects in the shelter. They ARE required to keep their area clean. Since TSA houses children naturally they do background checks to ensure no sex offenders, someone convicted of a violent crime or certain level drug offenders sleep overnight in the facility. This is to protect THE CHILDREN living at the shelter - not to hinder anyone from getting a job. The police are ALWAYS called for medical emergencies and violent behavior.

Under no circumstances would a "volunteer" be encouraged or even ALLOWED to follow residents. Volunteers are monitored - given criminal background checks - again to protect the clients and children. Volunteers are always supervised by a staff member and do things such as provide parties for the children and adult residents, serve meals, organize the clothing closet, etc. Staff may be what you deem control freaks. Imagine you are in charge of a shelter where close to 300 people sleep each night. You have to have rules - and the rules have to be followed for EVERYONE's safety - including you when you stay there.

It is true that some women are given cots or mats to sleep on. That happens when all the beds are full. The Salvation Army provides shelter to as many people as we can - which at times results in women having to sleep on mats or cots. The ARCH next door takes in as many men as they can fit into their overflow area and TSA does the same for women. On cold nights both shelters will be filled to the brim with those experiencing homelessness. Better to sleep inside on a cot or mat than be outside in below freezing weather.

Staff members have a calling to work with this population. It is not something you do for the money, or to gain "power" over anyone. Not all are of the Christian faith - which is not a requirement to be employed by TSA or to be sheltered at any of TSA's facilities. Nor is anyone forced to attend church services. They are given the opportunity to attend IF THEY WISH.

Enough said - just please get your facts straight before you post things like this. You may not have liked the rules, the food, the beds at TSA. But it sure as heck beat being on the streets.

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From A Crime Victim Needing Sanctuary
Austin, US
Feb 04, 2014 7:38 pm EST

I know the Salvation Army in Austin has volunteer staff members who are convicts, former prostitutes and drug addicts with no training or ability to manage the population they serve. Residents of the facility have experienced 'laying on of the hands' rather than medical treatment, threats of eviction if they report scandalous conditions including shared housing with patients who are ill and a general population, food quality and hygiene are dangerous to health. The model for the Army, thought by many to aid those who are endangered or victims of disaster is not the reality of the present situation . It seems the Army selects individuals who should be sent to drunk tanks or to the CDC for testing. It is a horrifying place which leaves many helpless, non criminal, residents traumatized and exploited by other residents and staff. Many of the staff exhibit rage and hatred toward the residents. The personal religious hysteria expressed by Army Members is cruel and hurtful . Army members come from the gutter and nurtures ghetto values. To say the army has good food and bedding is a blatant lie, people are given mats on the floor, women in safe sleep were housed in the clinic corridor where deliverymen opened the door at night to bring in food, Plastic cots with stains are the "great beds" other beds are metal with plastic mattresses lined so closely to one another women are inches away from each other. The staff are control freaks and have punitive mentalities treating residents as if they are criminals in need of punishment, they are capricious in the manner in which rules are enforced. I believe this facility should be closed, they take in more people than for whom they have space, they admit dangerous drug addicts and felons mixing these violent people with those who have unfortunate financial circumstances or medical problems which are not created by drugs. Although the city of Austin makes regular EMS visits to the Salvation Army, the EMS and Police are not always called for drug overdoses or violence erupting in the facility
Another danger to public health is the admission of men and women urinating themselves, this is not always an alcohol related problem it can be caused by contagious kidney disease. Mold, mildew and pigeon droppings on window sill adjacent to beds are also a health hazzard. The facility should be torn down. The regulations of the Army impede progress on job searches, job search logs are used to check up on residents, thereby stigmatizing job seekers. Some believe this check up is a form of stalking. Residents who arrive in the facility with packages are accused of theft by staff. The people in this cult require helplessness because they crave power more than salvation. The goodwill extended by the Army is a front for vicarious thrill seekers who wallow in the despair of others, only by spending their time with tragedy and ### of the earth do the Army members achieve a sense of power and status. When residents write complaints or make statements they will call the police they are asked to leave. Only a few show kindness to the residents. Some residents report being followed by volunteers in situations which are not circumstantial. Exposure to this paramilitary organization is corrosive, it is better to sleep in the street than enter that building.

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Unjustified Justice
, US
Feb 28, 2011 5:36 pm EST

As far as I'm concered, I've talked to dozens and dozens of people that stay at that shelter and they said there is no other place in Austin that can match the great food, bedding, help and comfort that the downtown Salvation Army provides. They prefer The Salvation Army over the Arch and other places.

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