The Salvation Army Jones Residence — Local services in Houston

It is with a sad heart I rate this place with two stars. Firstly, because I was helped once by them a few years ago when I was running away with my only, autistic child back then, from an abusive relationship and secondly, because they were nice with us. But the way it seems things have turned now makes me feel sad and upset at the same time. I went last night to take a lady who has no place to go with her two children and the lady at the speaker told us they don’t take singles (What? Since when? Why?), when this lady I was trying to help was told on the phone they could take them but she needed to be there physically, since they don’t have transportation. Then she told us to try with Sally’s House (another shelter from SA for single women with children), for which she claimed she did not know how it works (being a SA shelter too!) and the lady at this last one told us it is not an emergency, overnight shelter anymore, when the automated machine I just got answered by at their phone number (in the hopes for them to answer and seeing us from the window, which showed me they are not actually looking to see who they can help) said they are an overnight shelter. “We don’t have no automated system” she said and also proceeded to tell us they have been closed for the last three months due to changes on the infrastructure, yada, yada. The problem here aside of denying entering to those in need is that they refuse to tell how to get in even with calling in advance, the only thing they say by phone is “call us tomorrow” (this is another thing the homeless lady was told, which means they give different answers, depending on who answers the call) and never say if they have vacancy or not. And now that I read what other people who have gone there to ask for help has gone through, it gives me the impression that indeed they only help people from certain races and that’s why they deny help to anyone who they haven’t made sure belongs to the race they limit...

It breaks my heart to give them one star. I moved to Texas from the east coast about 4 years ago. I have been a salvationist all my life. I have seen and participated in doing good. Life brings you to unexpected junctures. Last year I lost my job. The market was BAD and I tried to use my savings and even that was gone. I started driving Uber but as a sole provider for myself and my three pets, it was not enough. First time in my life I was helpless. I called them because I know Salvation Army, SA is in my blood. I called them and for the first time, my call was answered. The lady (who shall not be named here) sent me a list of places to get food. This was in November 2023, I needed assistance with rent. I was told unfortunately they could not help for November but to call them in December. I call every day, Monday to Friday but she just stopped answering my calls. She finally answered my call sometime around Dec 20th and said to call her when I get the notice to evict and she would help out. I had borrowed some money from friends to pay December rent. In January 2024, I did get the eviction notice which I emailed her. She NEVER responded so I called their office who transferred me to her. When she answered she said, yes I saw the email but there was nothing so I was asked to call her when I got a court notice. Isn't the whole idea to ask for assistance is so I am not taken to court? THIS IS NOT WHAT THE SALVATION ARMY IS. I am truly disappointed. It has been 3 weeks since I started a job and I am working on paying back the three month's rent that I had borrowed from friends. I cannot express in words how...

The food is good, the facilities are nice. Most staff and residents are kind most of the time. We're humans. That said... The resources and programs here are primarily pamphlets. Due diligence is necessary to be successful, but even that won't save you from the caseworkers if you are not Black.

I am grateful that we only had to sleep outside for a short period of time before we were sufficiently pathetic enough to be accepted into the program. The staff was able to look past my whiteness, grow past their utter disgust with my children and I being sexual assault survivors, and wait until the day my disabled child's SSI cleared before they tried to shove us out the door and put us directly back into the situation that had us helpless and sleeping in the park. Now let them reply about the apartment they offered to pay a deposit on with no access to furniture, no placement for my children into public schools, no approval of government assistance, no access to transportation, and no possibility of employment while we have no childcare whatsoever. I understand this is an emergency shelter. But, how dare you offer access to programs encouraging our growth towards independence, but before any of the resources become available you send us back into the darkness with nothing but our money spent for us. You saved us for 2 weeks just to prop us up for an even worse fall from grace. Houston is solving homelessness, indeed.

Edit: Nevermind, they do Black people...