Hope Center and Safe Harbor ask Appling County for volunteers during point‑in‑time outreach

Representatives from the Hope Center and Safe Harbor told the Appling County Board of Commissioners they are expanding outreach to people experiencing homelessness and asked the county for volunteer support.

An unidentified Hope Center representative reported what they described as a busy outreach year, saying the operation has “served 13,000 to-go plates” and reached “3,200 families” in Appling County during the last 11 months. The representative introduced Juanita Adams of the Safe Harbor Center, who said Safe Harbor has operated for a year and a half at 181 North Main Street and helps people access housing and services rather than providing permanent housing.

“ We started out last over a year and a half ago with 35 families. We have been able to get them homes and places to stay. We’re down to 15 now,” Juanita Adams said, describing progress in relocating people into housing and asking for volunteer help.

Adams described an upcoming outreach schedule she identified as a “point-in-time count” on the “20 sixth,” followed by a community meal event at the Hope Center on the “20 seventh” where volunteers will help gather information on people not reached during canvassing. She said she will leave business cards and flyers at the county desk and will provide an email address for volunteer registration.

Adams asked residents and county partners to publicize the events and to volunteer for canvassing and on-site assistance. The presentation closed with a request that the commission and community “pull our resources together” to address needs rather than “put a band aid on something.”

The commission did not take formal action at the time of the presentation; commissioners thanked the speakers and moved to other agenda items.