Three years ago the Salvation Army closed on property to the southwest of Barron, intending to remodel an abandoned former nursing home into transitional housing.
The Salvation Army had received $525,000 in Community Development Block Grant COVID funds plus $200,000 from Foster Friess, which was enough to buy the building, fund renovations and cover operations for a little while, and Duana Bremer, the Salvation Army director for St. Croix, Polk and Burnett counties, had hoped to open the doors mid-winter 2021-22.
Those hopes were dashed by supply delays, and with the recent discovery of rotten wood lurking beneath the roof, the Salvation Army has come to the conclusion that the building must be razed and a new shelter built in its place.
Good news, bad newsWhen the Salvation Army acquired the property on Highway TT to the south of Highway 8 in 2021 it planned to renovate two buildings to provide 32 beds under the name Family House.
Renovating a smaller building near the former nursing home has not posed a problem, and Bremer said it is furnished and will be ready for habitation soon with a little additional work.
“We should be able to house up to 12 people in that building through the winter,” she said.
The Salvation Army is hoping that Benjamin’s House in Rice Lake can accept more families so the Family House shelter can focus on housing single individuals.
The problem lies with the larger building.
As part of the renovation process, the Salvation Army hired someone to inspect for asbestos, a proven carcinogen once used in building materials. The state Department of Natural Resources requires facility owners planning to demolish or renovate to inspect for the deadly fibers.
While the Salvation Army expected to find asbestos in the insulation, the extensive wood rot came as a surprise.
“As soon as they got into [asbestos abatement], they saw all the beams were rotten,” Bremer said.
The Salvation Army asked Barron County, which is the pass-through government entity for the block grant, to ask for the grant’s deadline to be extended to Dec. 31, 2025.
Bremer said Barron County has submitted a request to the state for the extension, but it can take up to 30 days to receive a response. Until then the Salvation Army’s project is at a stand still.
However, when they get approval Bremer said they will build on the same blueprint in anticipation of adding all 32 beds for which they are committed.
“We can’t change the scope of the project,” Bremer said.
But while the need to demolish and build new is a huge setback, it has its advantages, she said.
“We needed to be open ages ago,” she said, “however, now we’re going to be able to build a building like a shelter. We’re not taking another building and making it fit — we can build it how we want it.”
FinancingAlthough three years have passed since the Salvation Army received the block grant and Friess funding, Bremer doesn’t anticipate the need for extensive fundraising to cover budget shortfalls.
The Salvation Army has already purchased many supplies, such as shower stalls, which can be used with new construction, but significant funds had not been placed into reconstruction.
Dave Armstrong, Barron County Economic Development Corp. executive director, said that no county money is involved in the project and the Salvation Army does a great job of raising funds when needed.
Bremer encourages anyone with questions or concerns to contact her at 715-338-9413.
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