The Salvation Army of Fort Worth recently celebrated the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration of its brand new Catherine Booth Friendship House. Partnering with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Salvation Army's newest housing community will provide 97 units of affordable housing for the very low-income elderly in Fort Worth, TX.

Picture of new Catherine Booth Friendship House.

Salvation Army band plays during the Catherine Booth Friendship House Grand Opening Ceremonies.

Fort Worth's new Catherine Booth Friendship House is a good example of how Congressional funding is working in a community through the efforts and partnership of faith-based organizations like The Salvation Army and HUD. At the Friendship House, the Salvation Army is providing 97 homes of affordable housing for the very low-income elderly.

The new complex will consist of one-bedroom units and a community area for resident activities. The new residence is being named in honor of the co-founder of the Salvation Army. Catherine Booth and her husband, William Booth, began their Christian ministry in London, England in 1864, helping the poor and homeless in London's East End, through a Christian Mission. Their Christian Mission later developed into the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army came to Texas in 1875 and opened in Fort Worth in 1890. In addition to offering family-service programs that help families and needy individuals with emergency food, utility assistance, and other temporal needs, the Salvation Army also provides low-cost independent living for senior citizens. They currently operate other residential facilities in Fort Worth as well as other cities in Texas including Waco, Tyler, Houston, and San Antonio.

L to R: Ribbon Cutting participants included the Salvation Army's Major James Lawrence, Fort Worth Area Commander; E. Ross Burton, HUD Director of the Fort Worth Multifamily Hub; A. Cynthia Leon, HUD Regional Director; Lt. Colonel Robert Tritton, the Salvation Army's TX Divisional Commander; and John Kellogg, Treasurer of the Tarrant County Advisory Board.

A. Cynthia Leon, HUD Regional Director in Fort Worth, speaks during Grand Opening ceremonies.

The total capital advance grant was $6,142,100. In addition HUD will provide Project Rental Assistance over a five-year period in the amount of $1,299,000. This is the largest grant given to a faith-based organization in Texas in many years. The funding for this project was provided under the Section 202, Housing for the Elderly Super NOFA of FY 2001.

This is the largest grant given to a faith-based organization in Texas in many years, and the funding for this much-needed project was provided under the HUD Section 202, Housing for the Elderly Program. The Salvation Army is also operating other residential facilities in Fort Worth as well as other cities in Texas including Waco, Tyler, Houston, and San Antonio.

A. Cynthia Leon, Regional Director, E. Ross Burton, Director of the Fort Worth Multifamily Hub, Joe Pennel, Director of Operations in the Fort Worth Multifamily Hub, Charlotte Mitchell and Natalia Enriquez, Project Managers in the Fort Worth Multifamily Program Center, and William Weathersby, HUD Architect, all represented HUD at the Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Major James Lawrence, Salvation Army Area Commander, thanked HUD for providing the funding for this greatly needed affordable housing community for the elderly.