The Salvation Army of Johnson County has expanded and improved its facilities for the homeless. Their existing shelter is 60-years-old and does not meet the needs of the county, which is the fastest growing county in Kansas.
The chapter's Major Mark Martsolf says the county wanted to provide a more dignified environment while the growing number of homeless families are trying to get back on their feet. He says the new Olathe facility will upgrade broken amenities and fixtures, as well as add square footage.
"The new facility will provide a larger space for the family to live in," says Martsolf. "Those rooms were about 11 by 12 and accommodated four people with a small bathroom. The new facilities will be like a hotel suite."
Martsolf says poverty in general has increased by about 41 percent and homelessness by 38 percent in Johnson County in the last seven years.
