The Salvation Army of Cape Fear marked a milestone 10 years in the making on Wednesday with the dedication of the Center of Hope, its new 20,500-square-foot homeless shelter in Wilmington.

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our community's commitment to serving those in need,” Salvation Army Major Ken Morris told a packed room of attendees. “We officially open the doors of a building that represents more than just brick and mortar. It embodies hope, transformation and our dedication to restoring dignity to every person who walks through our doors.”

The new shelter has beds for up to 75 people, including seven suites specifically designed for families. (A photo of a room inside the shelter is shown below.) The building also houses staff offices, a full-service kitchen, a laundry area and other common spaces. The Salvation Army plans to offer social work and case management services along with life skills classes, meals for residents and a daily community meal at the center.

“Our vision for this new Center of Hope is to create a comprehensive center of care that addresses not just immediate needs,” Morris said, “but also provides pathways to long-term stability and independence.”

The new shelter began a decade ago as just an idea, said Darrell Baginski, chair of the Salvation Army of Cape Fear’s advisory board.

Baginski told attendees, “Our previous shelter, for those of you who probably remember it, was old, outdated and needed to be replaced. However, 10 years ago, the idea of replacement was just a concept – we had no money to build the building, and we had no land to build it on.”

The Salvation Army previously operated a shelter facility on Second Street in downtown Wilmington. It closed in 2023 after the city of Wilmington purchased the property for $4.8 million. Proceeds from the sale helped the group fund the construction of the new shelter.

Work on the shelter began at 1220 N. 30th St. – a 22-acre site that’s bordered by the Creekwood neighborhood and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway – early last year. Morris said there are a few things to wrap up around the building’s exterior in the coming weeks, but the group hopes to welcome residents in mid- to late-July.

The organization plans to stagger its move into the building, focusing first on moving over its shelter staff and a social worker before bringing in an initial number of residents and then ramping up to full capacity. The facility will also serve as an emergency shelter and could accommodate up to 100 cots throughout the space, Morris said.

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo called the shelter’s completion a “tremendous milestone for our community.” Saffo thanked the Salvation Army and others in attendance who work to provide services and support to the area’s unsheltered residents. 

“This is not easy work,” he said, “and so many times, especially with our unsheltered population, people just don't understand the complexities of it at times and how difficult it is.”

The Salvation Army is currently fundraising for a community center that’s planned nearby, Morris said. Site work has already been completed for the community center.

“That building will complement this building and will host job fairs, health screenings, educational workshops, worship and recreational activities,” Morris said, “ensuring that our impact reaches far beyond those experiencing homelessness, to strengthen our entire community.”

The center is expected to cost between $7 million and $8 million. They’ve raised about half that amount, he said, and plan to lean on other funding sources, including private donors, government funds and the New Hanover Community Endowment, to cover the rest of the cost. Morris said the group hopes to get the community center up and running in the next two to three years.