Modesto approves $591K to keep Salvation Army homeless shelter open through 2026

Modesto’s City Council has approved $591,000 to sustain The Salvation Army’s homeless services at the Berberian Center through December 31, 2025. The funding includes $491,000 from the state’s Permanent Local Housing Allocation program and $100,000 from the Cannabis Community Benefit fund. The vote was unanimous, with Councilman Jeremiah Williams recusing himself from the decision.

The city staff report noted that the funding will maintain essential services at the 182-bed Access Center Emergency Shelter (ACES) at Ninth and D streets. A funding gap emerged last year, jeopardizing operations at the facility. A key source, the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program, was not included in the state budget for 2025-26.

Modesto, Stanislaus County, and The Salvation Army have collaborated to secure additional funding to keep the shelter open. In May, the county extended the lease termination date for the facility to September 30. The $591,000 will support staffing, program administration, and facility costs, according to the city report. Efforts continue to find more sustainable funding for the shelter services.

Since its opening in 2019, the ACES facility has relied on more than 20 funding sources. The entire Salvation Army campus provides nearly 410 shelter beds for adults and serves almost 600 people daily. Additional services, such as case management, aim to address basic needs and assist individuals in moving toward permanent housing. Over 110 people have successfully transitioned to housing through the program.

The $100,000 from the city’s contribution comes from an agreement with Canopy Growth USA, which previously operated an industrial hemp manufacturing facility in Modesto. The agreement required Canopy Growth to make a $300,000 community benefit contribution in three annual payments of $100,000. The Salvation Army was selected as the second-year recipient of these funds.

The city is also seeking up to $2.5 million in Encampment Resolution Funding as a potential source of grants for emergency shelter costs. The county has applied to the same program. This ongoing effort reflects a commitment to supporting vulnerable neighbors and addressing housing insecurity in the community.

Source: Read the original report