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Richmond’s only full-time homeless shelter likely to close

Click to play video: 'Uncertainty surrounds Richmond homeless shelter'
Uncertainty surrounds Richmond homeless shelter
WATCH: The owner of a homeless shelter in Richmond has put up the property for sale, leaving its future in question. Jordan Armstrong reports. – Mar 18, 2016

The Salvation Army is looking for a new emergency shelter.

The future of the Salvation Army Richmond House, a 10-bed emergency shelter for “homeless men to sort out their personal problems and long-term housing needs,” is uncertain because the property’s owner is selling the home.

“[We] will take care of every single one of them, even if there’s a time lapse from where we can go, we’ll find a temporary place to put them and keep them,” promises Major Kathie Chiu of the Salvation Army, who says no one will be forced on the streets.

The organization has been planning to double the capacity of their shelter – but that’s not planned until next year, and no location has been found yet.

READ MORE: Richmond non-profit has unique approach to housing the city’s homeless

Dianne Woodhouse, a homeless advocate in the city and drop-in nurse at a different temporary homeless shelter in Richmond, says it’s indicative of a larger problem.

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“The situation with homelessness in Richmond is in dire straights,” she said.

“The numbers are raising. It’s a huge issue that we all face, and we face advocating for them, is housing. We cannot find affordable housing.”

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