ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s been a plan long in the works. The shelter that has served as a safe place for women and children for decades, will be renovated with a brand-new look at the Salvation Army in Orlando.
“These shelters never close. Never shut their doors and so it’s important that we get this up to code, that we get it clean, we get it properly done. Stripping it to the walls,” Captain Ken Chapman said.
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Chapman explained it costs about $8.4 million to renovate both the women’s and men’s shelters, which have not been renovated since the 70s.
“You can see all sorts of issues that have taken place because of age,” Chapman said.
The organization raised the funds with the help of donors and foundations, but the pandemic put plans behind.
“Everything went up with labor, with supply chain issues, we also had inflation, so it went to $8.4 million,” Chapman said.
Volunteers have been cleaning out the shelter for the last couple of weeks though there’s still a lot to be done before demo day.
Chapman said the Salvation Army continues to house families at a separate location.
Renovations are scheduled to begin the first week of May then crews will start renovating the men’s shelter in July.
“We will be done by February in 2023 ready to serve this community,” Chapman said.