After previous presentations with the Pennyrile Area Development District and Hopkinsville City Council, officials with the Salvation Army of Hopkinsville-Christian County remain adamantly optimistic about plans to build a new four-in-one facility capable of serving south western Kentucky’s neediest citizens.
And that message remained clear with Christian County Fiscal Court Tuesday afternoon, when Kentucky/Tennessee Senior Divisional Resource Development Director Chris Head delivered the full vision of an $8.5-to-$9.5 million build — one that would be just four blocks away from its current 50-year location, on what is donated property that still resides within the city limits.
Head confirmed that a “dream building” would cost about $12 million, but the organization already has $3 million raised — and another $6 million is needed in order to begin opening-phase construction on a facility that he said would be open 24/7, and be able to address more than just housing and food insecurities.
In the last year alone, Head noted that residents from Trigg, Christian and Todd counties — and some from further — accounted for more than 9,000 overnight stays, and the soup kitchen served more than 45,000 meals and delivered another 40,000-plus food boxes.
Furthermore, Head said that from 2020-25, more than $5 million from the Salvation Army has been reinserted back into the local and regional economy, by way of utility and rental assistance, as well as annual Angel Tree Christmas efforts.
Combined with these details, as well as 18 months of studies and analysis, Head said there is “high confidence” of remaining, and growing, in Christian County.
The next two closest shelters, Head said, are a Madisonville shelter, which only houses 25-to-30 people at a given time, while a Clarksville location has undergone a renovation — but still needs critical funding before it can reopen during regular business hours.
Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam said more conversations with the Salvation Army are coming within the county’s budget committee.
Head said that once a new facility is constructed, the old property would then be up for sale.
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