The Salvation Army told the Colorado Springs City Council on Monday that its Family Hope Center, the region’s only low-barrier emergency family shelter, faces a funding shortfall that could force reductions in services.
Major Steve Ball, county coordinator for the Salvation Army in El Paso County, told the council the shortfall has grown over several years and "without additional resources will necessitate reductions in our services," singling out the Family Hope Center as at risk.
The Family Hope Center can shelter up to 31 families and operates as a 90-day program with case management. Sandra Haley, lead case manager at the Family Hope Center, said the program served 277 families in 2024 — 434 adults and 528 children — and logged more than 33,000 bed nights and 34,000 meals from June 31, 2024, to July 1, 2025. Haley said the center reported a 64% success rate for 2024 exits to housing (176 families) and an average successful exit rate of 83% since she joined in February.
Why it matters: Council members and city homelessness staff framed the center as a core local safety-net service for families with children. Amy Cox, the city’s Chief Housing and Homelessness Response Officer, told council staff are working with the Salvation Army on possible contributions but said federal pass-through grants are delayed and cannot fully close the gap.
What the Salvation Army requested and what the city said it can offer: The Salvation Army said its projected gap for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 is between $800,000 and $1,000,000. Major Ball and Sandra Haley asked the council to help identify supplemental resources. Cox said the city is evaluating a roughly $200,000 contribution from available pots (general fund and some federal pass-throughs such as CDBG) but that federal grant agreements (HUD and other awards) have been delayed, and the city’s potential $200,000 would not cover the full gap.
Funding context and timeline: Major Ball said the shelter was a roughly $1.5 million project in 2024 and that the organization historically relied on a mix of donations, in-kind support and grants; he said about 61% of recent support is donations and in-kind contributions. Ball and Cox explained that federal and state grant funding that surged during the pandemic has declined or been delayed, and the Salvation Army has an internal budget deadline of July 31 to set its next fiscal-year plan. Cox said the city’s general fund contributions have held near previous levels (about $150,000 annually in recent years) while federal awards have been delayed this year.
Council response and next steps: Several council members urged prompt action. Councilman Donaldson suggested the city consider an additional $200,000 from the general fund and asked county leaders to contribute; other council members pressed for a coordinated regional meeting and for the council and mayor’s office to work with the Salvation Army to identify funding. Cox offered to coordinate internally and meet with Major Ball; she stressed the limitation that some federal grants are not yet under contract and therefore not available until agreements are issued.
Discussion vs. decision: The council did not take a formal vote. City staff said they are exploring a $200,000 contribution; the Salvation Army remains short by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Council members asked staff to return with options during the city’s budget process timeline.
Ending note: Major Ball asked the council to "help us identify supplemental resources," and Haley and other Salvation Army staff stressed the center’s role in reuniting families and helping parents secure steady employment while providing child care and supportive services.