BATON ROUGE — The Salvation Army of Greater Baton Rouge has eliminated its $10 nightly fee previously charged to guests staying at its Center of Hope Emergency Shelter.

The Center of Hope provides emergency shelter, meals, case management, and supportive services to men experiencing homelessness in the Greater Baton Rouge area.

Salvation Army says that removing the fee is "reaffirming its commitment to meeting people where they are and ensuring that financial hardship does not stand between someone in need and a safe place to stay."

While the fee has been removed for guests, the cost of providing shelter has not, the Salvation Army said.

The Salvation Army is now asking the Greater Baton Rouge community to help bridge that gap by either shopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Store or becoming a monthly donor through the Army of Hope.