Salvation Army Resident Angry to Be Out in the Cold
By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: January 14, 2013
One Salvation Army resident is upset today's freezing temperatures did not keep the doors open at the shelter. He says even with below freezing temperatures he had to leave at 7 am.
He says "I understand not being lazy and finding employment, but not in freezing weather or bad conditions."
Salvation Army Major Tim Grider says unless the weather is dangerous, they will not keep the shelter open during the daytime.
"Our shelter is not open on a day like today where it is only cold it has to be inclement such as snow, sleet, hail, high wind like the dust storm we had last month," said Grider.
"They are to be out during the day whether it be going to Workforce Solutions, whether it be finding jobs or whether it be going out and taking care of personal business such as getting identification," said Grider.
Grider says it's important for their residents to learn the discipline of work even in bad weather.
"Those who are with us, they have to go get the job that is available, that job may require them to work in this kind of weather," said Grider.
He says no matter the temperature, they must stick to their policy.
"I know that there are those who got up this morning and probably said it's too cold, I might as well stay in my bed. That can't happen, that is not our program, and again it's not how we are supported so that is our policy," said Grider.
