The closing of a Salvation Army shelter that serves about 400 meals daily might seem like a bad thing for a neighborhood in distress. Especially when there’s no replacement shelter ready to open.

But those operating the center in Uptown say the closing is necessary.

“Today might be the last meal in the building, but it won’t be the last meal [the Salvation Army] serves for all these folks,” said Carmen Staggers, who has been director of the Salvation Army’s Tom Seay Center. “We’re not just closing down our ministries, we’re really trying to expand them.”

How?

The Salvation Army will now rely on vans to take homeless people to other shelters that serve meals. A mobile trailer will also be deployed. That is equipped with social service workers and a nurse to provide counsel and treatment.

The mobile units have not been deployed yet, officials said.

The center, at 1025 W. Sunnyside Ave., has been in deteriorating condition. Workers stopped accepting donations, such as food and clothing, two weeks ago.

“We’re making this move, in effect, not to be landlocked to one location,” said Mike Bravers, director of communication at the Salvation Army’s metro division. “We’ve been told that there are sufficient resources in the area and that the homeless’ needs will still be met.”

Arnell Legs disagrees.

Workers at the Tom Seay center, Legs said, helped him find jobs that kept him out of trouble and motivated.

“It’s so hard today because it feels like we’re all being cut off,” said Legs, who is 33. “There’s no way in the world the other places can accommodate this many people.”

One agency that will serve those who formerly ate at the now-closed center is REST, the North Side’s largest homeless shelter.

REST – Residents for Effective Shelter Transition – has already started to pick up some of the slack, but is struggling to meet demands.

The shelter, which is located on the second floor of the People’s Church, less than a mile from Tom Seay, is at capacity.

“We added some beds, but it’s still not enough,” said Ellen McMurry, development director at REST. “The funding just isn’t there right now, but all we can do now is keep plugging.”

Isaac Barrantine, meal program coordinator at People’s Church, increased the church’s lunch program from three to four days a week to make up for the loss at Tom Seay. The Church will begin five-day-a-week meals starting Dec. 1.

“Homelessness is a business,” he said. “There is so much need here in Uptown that our church and REST have no choice, we have to provide for these people.”