He said only a small percentage of guests stay more than three weeks. As is often the case with patrons, he was dropped off at the shelter by police after attending a court appearance. Van Sant had been living with his sister in Toledo, Ill. until her landlord said Van Sant had to leave. At the Salvation Army, once patrons begin working, they are required to put 70 percent of their paycheck in the bank to save up for their own places to live, Holt said. Unfortunately, Holt said, many patrons return to the Salvation Army after they have been on their own because they left the program before working through all their problems.
Problems can vary from alcoholism or drug addiction to simple mismanagement of funds.
Some people are homeless because they want to be homeless. There's always some shelter to go to. Patron Jack Cloe arrived at the Salvation Army two months ago after being dropped off by the department of corrections. Cloe said the program's spiritual counselor and drug testing have helped him fight his addictions. Cloe admitted, however, that the program doesn't work for everyone.