WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — In Warner Robins, city leaders are still working to open a shelter for people with no home there. In April 2023, the city bought a building on Green Street. They hoped to open the doors by last winter.
Then they set their goal to April through July of this year. Now, through the new Builders United in Lifting Dreams (or BUILD) initiative, they hope they can open them soon.
"We are at a great beginning to opening the doors," Mayor LaRhonda Patrick said.
The Haven Hope House is Warner Robins' first city-owned homeless shelter.
"It's been gutted, renovations have started on the inside. It's actually a live construction zone," Patrick said.
Patrick says crews removed bricks and mold from the building, and it's clear of asbestos. Once open, it will house 50 women and men, a community kitchen and more.
"The community has been such huge supporters of Haven Hope House," Patrick said.
Thus far, they've received roughly $15,000 in monetary donations and nearly $50,000 worth of toiletries, clothing and other goods towards the shelter.
Now, they're looking for a little more to turn their hopes into realities.
"We're looking for more individuals to donate skilled labor like the plumbing, the electrical, the mechanical," Patrick said.
As part of their BUILD initiative, you can donate your time to do construction. it's of similar fashion to Habitat for Humanity. The city will pay for materials, but the free labor saves money.
"We think that it paints a better picture to show, though the city has funds set aside to do the renovations required here, that we are doing it and we're allowing the community to come through and input," she said.
They can focus their spending on other needs.
"It cuts down on the amount we have to put down on the building, and we can put that money towards actually providing the programs and making sure we have everything we need to operate the shelter," Patrick said.
In the meantime, the doors at No Limit Baptist church are still open and they're helping our unhoused community at least once every month.
"We try to have food for the community. Not only food but clothes," Pastor Vince Harrington said.
Last winter Harrington's church opened a warming shelter. He says the homeless community greatly appreciated it.
"They wanted to keep telling us how much they appreciated what we're doing, and keep telling us that we please don't stop," Harrington said.
Now every fourth Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., they feed and clothe the homeless.
Harrington says it's work that takes a village and Mayor Patrick hopes the Warner Robins village will help complete this shelter by winter.
"November is when we should be completely finished with the renovations. With the community support I know we can get that even earlier," Patrick said.
If you'd like to donate monetarily or donate your time towards the build initiative you can do that here.
If you have any questions you can also reach out to the city hall.