You may have seen signs while driving in Salem, but do you know the organization that is behind the phone number?
That organization is celebrating 50 years of providing people in the area with a place they can call home.
Pulling up to the stoplight at Wildwood Road and West Main Street in Salem, you may notice this sign.
A little more than a year ago, these signs were installed here and at the intersection of Apperson Drive and Route 419.
“We received a call from the City of Salem police officer who was interested in assisting people who were soliciting. They said it was a safety risk and they were curious if they put our number on their signs, if we would be able to assist them with, housing, shelter, food, clothing, and I said absolutely,” said Jeanne McCormack, Executive Director of ARCH Roanoke.
Jeanne Mccormack the Executive Director of ARCH Roanoke was happy top help.
“I thought this was brilliant. I know that other cities have done it, and they’ve done it very well,” said Jeanne McCormack, Executive Director of ARCH Roanoke.
ARCH Roanoke is a non-profit dedicated to pulling people off the streets and securing them housing.
“It doesn’t matter if they have a criminal record, it doesn’t matter if they are taking medications, if they have drug abuse history, or anything like that. We focus on housing them and then we work to get them stabilized right after,” said Jeanne McCormack, Executive Director of ARCH Roanoke.
The organization includes Trust House and Bethany Hall, both of which have been helping the community for close to 50 years.
“They don’t have access to food, to shelter, to obtain hygiene products, and of course no roof over their heads. So for us to be able to take them and put them in housing immediately, that right there is just a huge accomplishment,” said Jeanne McCormack, Executive Director of ARCH Roanoke.
To learn more about ARCH Roanoke’s services head to: https://archservices.org
