Opening of the Morgan County Salvation Army remains in limbo

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — As the homeless population in Morgan County continues to grow there is still no place available for overnight stays for those in need.

Two years ago, the Salvation Army of Decatur closed its doors, and that closure left a hole in efforts to relieve the homeless population in Morgan County.

Sergeants Jim and Rebecca Lahman were assigned to reopen and maintain the shelter. Since then, the efforts to fully re-open the shelter have been a challenge.

In November of 2023, things were looking better for the unhoused when officials announced that the outreach would soon reopen.

The doors have remained locked and since then, according to homeless advocates, the homeless population in the city has nearly tripled. The Lahman’s say that they expected both public support and enough funding from city officials would outweigh the need.

Efforts to fully re-open the shelter have been a challenge.

“I don’t believe that opening a homeless shelter brings more people here,” said Sgt. Rebecca Lahman. “Who wants to go to Decatur, Alabama to stay in a homeless shelter? I would say nobody does.”

Rebecca Lahman told News 19 that for the past two years, they have been looking at around $160,000 in support just to reopen. The money will go towards maintenance, staffing and transitional housing.

“We have seven apartments that families will live in, and they will learn what it is that caused them to be homeless and try over the next two years to save money and overcome those issues so that they can become successful out in regular housing,” said Lahman.

The Salvation Army is the only outreach with the available space to accommodate the entire homeless population in Morgan County.

“I’ll do what I need to do if I have to be here 24 hours but, I can’t do it by myself,” Lahman said.

Lahman’s plan now is to face city leaders on Wednesday at the budget meeting at city hall.

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