The Salvation Army is the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in Canada and serves in 400 communities across the country. Below are brief descriptions of just some of the services that The Salvation Army provides.

Emergency Disaster Services

The service provided in the wake of the Boxing Day Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina are examples of The Salvation Army’s timely and effective work providing disaster relief. Ready to deploy its resources at very short notice, our disaster units immediately work to reduce physical harm and help victims regain control of their lives. The Salvation Army brings relief to people around the world through its emergency and disaster services. For additional information, please visit www.salvationarmy.ca/eds.

Community and Family Services

The Army cares for people at their crisis point. In keeping with the philosophy of our founder, William Booth, we work to restore hope and dignity to those who might otherwise remain invisible in society. Emergency assistance is provided in the form of clothing, food, accommodation, life skills training and counselling.

Family Tracing Services

The Family Tracing Services of The Salvation Army were started in 1885 in order to help locate missing family members. The Salvation Army, with a presence in 117 countries, is uniquely equipped to offer this service internationally. This service has proven particularly useful following major natural disasters, like Hurricane Katrina, in terms of reuniting separated families. For more on family tracing, or for information on how to initiate an inquiry, please visit www.Salvationist.ca.

Camps

Across Canada kids come alive at our summer camps. Last year 6,600 children from marginalized communities experienced life at its best and learned the values of friendship and caring through our various camp programs.

Street Youth Services

Canada’s growing population of street youth meet the Army on their own turf. Vans in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver deliver what may be the kids’ only meal of the day. A trust is built up with Army workers who can often provide other forms of help and counselling where appropriate.

Homeless Services

The Salvation Army provides 6,370 shelter beds, one-quarter of all the shelter beds in Canada, for the homeless each night through a national network of 52 shelters and hostels. For additional information on homelessness, please visit our Homelessness Fact Sheet.

Addictions Services

Each year, the Army assists close to 10,000 individuals with chronic addictions. In a proactive initiative, our non-residential prevention programs help to reach people before they lose control of their lives. In 2008, 2,000 people successfully completed Salvation Army addiction programs.

Safe Houses
Hundreds of thousands of women and children in Canada are victims of abuse within the family. Salvation Army facilities are a safe haven for many of them. Last year we helped thousands of people in our Women’s Shelters, Maternity homes, Post Psychiatric Care Centres and Day Nurseries. In a secure environment the healing begins and people receive the practical help they need to begin rebuilding their lives.

Palliative Care

Salvation Army Grace Hospitals and hospices provide care and counselling for patients with AIDS, cancer and other terminal illnesses. At the same time we give support and comfort to the patients’ families and loved ones.

Services for the Mentally and Physically Challenged

The Salvation Army has responded to government cutbacks in services to people with special needs with new programs for people who cannot care for themselves or who need extra support in order to live independent lives. Counselling, on-site job coaching, work adjustment training and other life skills programs are among the ways that we help. Our goal is to give each person the dignity that comes from making a contribution to society and being self-sufficient to the extent that they are able.

Corrections and Justice

Every day in Canada almost 34,000 people are behind bars and over 100,000 live under community supervision. The Salvation Army carries out an extensive corrections and justice service which has a positive impact on the lives of thousands of inmates and their families.

Young Parent Resource Centres

Young Parent Resource Centres provide housing, support, high school education, parenting programs (dads and moms), child care and other assistance for pregnant and parenting teenagers.

The Salvation Army’s programs are life-changing, and your continued support of them means that more lives are restored every year.