Salvation Army emergency shelter

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Great place for new beginnings

Jathon

An emergency shelter that apparently needs a refural and says it could be months before they can let you stay there.

Liz LaBrenz

As good as it gets.

J. Cox

The Salvation Army Anaheim Emergency Shelter (SA AES) is a wonderful place to escape the harsh brutality of the streets and slum motels, where every day is a struggle to keep a roof over one’s head, stay reasonably well nourished, and fend off the prevalent bullies and thieves that behave like vultures on carrion in these environs. I expected the shelter to be warehouse-like structure, dimly lit, unclean, and over-populated with unfortunate, unhealthy, emotionally troubled dregs of society. I pictured row after row of bunk beds, zero privacy, haunting rants in the middle of the night, clogged toilets, rationed toilet tissue, stained urinals, long lines at meal time, where tasteless gruel would be rationed out by over-weight mustached ladies who could torment some WWF performers. Turns out that I was wrong about all of that. The SA AES is very spacious, uncrowded, clean, friendly, and yes - comfortable. There are separate dorm like structures for men, women, and couples. There are bunk beds and regular beds, but they are spread out and separated by partitions, offering the residents some decent semblance of privacy. The restrooms are in separate structures, and the showers are individual and are in separate structures from the commodes. There are plenty of these so one almost never has to wait much. The Salvation Army staff is almost entirely professional, albeit informally so, and, for the most part, goes out of its way to be friendly, efficient, cooperative, and helpful. Some of them are truly outstanding individuals. The ones who aren’t really well matched for the calling are usually not in site for long. The cafeteria is large enough to seat all the residents, although they are almost never all within at the same time. The standard three meals per day are served in 90 minute time periods, and the residents are free to take their meals outside the cafeteria. The food is simple but good, and despite the dearth if vegetables, is salubrious and satisfying. Security is handled by a private security company, Lyons, which mans the points of entry and exit, keeps track of the residents’ whereabouts, and prevents unauthorized items from being brought inside the premises. The Lyons security staff is outstanding! They are friendly, professionally competent, and well trained. They give the residents a well deserved sense of safety and protection. There are rules, but they are extremely reasonable, fairly administered, and, for the most part, necessary. Residents who repeatedly violate these rules are given written notices and, if the malfeasance continues, they are “asked” to leave, sometimes with the ability to return after the passage of some designated time period. If I had been aware of the foregoing, I would have saved myself a mountain of grief and entered much sooner, and be farther along the road to sustainable independent living. The forces behind the establishment and ongoing management of the SA AES should be applauded for this fabulous accomplishment.