The news this week that the Salvation Army is panning a new purpose-built building on King street to be used for emergency housing, homes for single people and substance abuse programmes is welcome.

It should go a long way towards alleviating the pressure that people at the lower end of the wage scale feel about securing adequate and affordable housing at the same time that it combats the challenges of those who are fighting substance abuse.

Indeed, recovering addicts often face major challenges when they emerge from rehabilitation in facing decent housing and work. Lacking that security makes returning to drugs or alcohol that much more tempting.

The Salvation Army - the church that rolls its sleeves up - does work of a breadth and depth that few other organisations would think of taking on with people who have either fallen through the safety net or are barely hanging on to it. Very often, it receives far less credit than it deserves.

The public should support the Army's plans for its new facility, if for no other reason than "there but for the Grace of God goes I".

The Army takes the idea of being my brother's keeper to heart and the general public should help the Salvationists to keep up their good work by supporting its plans.