Salvation Army and SSM Health Team Up to Improve Health and Housing Stability

September 23, 2026 - 21:45

On Wednesday, community leaders gathered to celebrate a significant investment from St. Mary's, allowing for two new respite rooms at the Center of Hope. The project marks the beginning of a partnership between the Salvation Army and SSM Health aimed at addressing the close link between health outcomes and housing stability.

The new respite rooms will provide a safe space for people recovering from illness or injury who have nowhere else to go. Without a stable place to rest, many patients end up back in emergency rooms shortly after discharge, a cycle that drives up costs and worsens health. The rooms offer a practical way to break that cycle by giving people time to heal under supervision before they move into longer term housing.

Leaders at the event said the collaboration reflects a growing understanding that hospitals and social service groups cannot solve these problems alone. Health systems bring medical resources, while organizations like the Salvation Army bring trust and deep relationships with people experiencing homelessness. Combining those strengths, they said, can produce results neither could achieve independently.

The partnership will also connect residents to case management, mental health support, and housing placement services. Organizers described the investment as a starting point and said they hope to expand the model if early results show it reduces repeat hospital visits and helps people secure permanent homes.