PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Salvation Army’s men’s shelter project received a big boost Thursday evening.
The organization announced two separate gifts totaling $9 million to go towards the project. Royal and Kathy Coulter, long-time owners of Peoria Disposal Company, are contributing $5 million, while former Caterpillar CEO Don Fites is contributing $4 million. Fires and his family contributed the lead gift in 2002 for the current men’s shelter in downtown Peoria.
The two gifts combined make up half of the estimated $18 million cost to construct a new men’s shelter on the site of the former labor temple building on Jefferson. A capital campaign is expected to launch this summer to try and raise the remaining half.
Major Heath Sells of the Salvation Army is optimistic the amount can be raised.
“I have often been surprised and humbled by the generosity of this community here in the Tri-County, and I never want to take that for granted,” Sells said. “So I don’t speak in full assurance, but we do, and have often recognized whether it’s our Tree of Lights program, or other services that we have raised, for the community has responded in fashion to meet the need.”
Details about the timeline of the men’s shelter project were released Thursday night, as well. Demolition of the former labor temple building is planned for early March, and be completed by the end of March. A groundbreaking is scheduled for this summer, with the goal to have the shelter completed and operational by the end of 2026.
The Salvation Army says the 19,000 square foot, two-story facility will provide more space and increased security, while giving men who need it separate sleeping and dining areas for more privacy and dignity.
“Sometimes our unhoused get negative connotation, but they’re created in the image of God. They have families who love them, and they deserve dignity,” Sells said.
The shelter will expand capacity from 52 men to 82 men each night, and also offer spaces for computer labs, classes, case management, counseling, and medical services.
The men’s shelter is the first phase of a two-phase project to renovate the entire block the Salvation Army sits on. The second phase will expand and renovate the family shelter and food pantry, at a price tag of around $12 million.
Sells says the current priority is to complete the first phase and the men’s shelter.
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