In an effort to expand their services to financially struggling families, the Salvation Army recently announced it would slash membership fees at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center on Dudley Street.

Since opening its doors in March 2011, the Kroc Center has taken on more than 2,200 individuals and families for monthly membership plans - about 200 of which signed up in January of this year. Administrators say the new reduced rates could help them reach 4,000 members by June.

The Salvation Army already offers families with an annual income between $35,000 and $50,000 discounted rates, however the new payment scheme will offer further discounts for families making less than $17,000. Under the new plan, qualified families would pay a one-time $50 registration fee and see monthly charges of $8 for adult memberships, $2 for youths, and $5 for seniors.

The discounts come at a time when Kroc Center administrators continue to pursue resources for a long-term endowment fund that will fuel future programming and hires.

“The reality is that there’s so many things going on in the building and so many programs and plans that will soon open, we need to make sure the resources are there, but we want to continue to fund the scholarships for families and folks at all income levels,” said Jack Peters, the capital campaign director for Salvation Army’s Massachusetts Division. “The center is open for all and we want to make sure that everyone has access to everything we have to offer.”

Major Robert Kountz, who oversees day-to-day operations at the 90,000-square-foot program space, said the application process for discounted rates was “not a grueling process.” Since beginning the discount program, Kountz said about 350 families have applied and only two did not qualify for the price break.

“What we’re saying here is that anyone who wants to come in should be allowed to come in,” Kountz said. “It’s not some side package. They all get the same access to everything we have to offer [as every other member.]”

Kroc Center membership, sales, and marketing manager Yhinny Matos said that beyond lowered rates, new members can expect an even stronger voice in programming decisions in the coming months. Kroc Center staff have begun holding online and street-side surveys for families in order to better target services towards the needs of the community.

As a result of those surveys, the Kroc Center announced a weeklong “vacation” program in February for area youths during the upcoming Spring school holiday in an effort to keep young students engaged and safe after learning many parents would be forced to miss work during the break.

Matos also added that the center’s staff – the majority of which live in and around Uphams Corner – have also become active forces in programming decisions through a committee. Matos says the staff’s insights are helping to create a much more community-focused experience for members.

“It’s one of those tools we use to make our programs that much more robust. We have one person who is very appreciative to be a part of the community like this because she thought she was just a regular worker bee,” Matos said. “They’re kind of a symbol of growth, if we work our way from the bottom up, we’ll soon find ourselves with a village.”

State Representative Carlos Henriquez commended Kroc Center staffers for their efforts to include community members in programming decisions, but said the center needs to be more open with pricing information. He says a campaign is needed to combat the perception that membership rates remain unaffordable.

Henriquez, said many residents are frustrated because staffers only quote non-discounted membership prices when fielding phone calls.

“Imagine you make $20,000 in your household and they only quote those numbers, you’d hang up and say ‘That place is unaffordable to me,’” Henriquez said. “Next time you’re talking to a neighbor, you’re going to say ‘that place is unaffordable.’ It’s a perception that needs to be addressed and the only way to do it is through a grassroots campaign like the ones we held before the first shovel was in the ground.”

Updated: A quote from Yhinny Matos was previously credited to Mary Zanor of Elevate Communications.