The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 when William Booth decided to take his ministry into the streets of London where it would reach the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute. It is now part of the universal Christian Church, and an international organization meeting human needs in 130 countries around the globe. The Salvation Army continues its tradition in the Northwest by serving more than 600,000 people annually, always meeting human needs without discrimination. Among the services offered in this region are food, shelter, addiction recovery, domestic violence aid, youth programs, and disaster relief.