MACON, Ga. — Cass Hatcher is the CEO of River Edge Behavioral Health. He said there was a need to help the homeless in Macon.
"It’s hard to recover if you have a disability, if you live in an encampment, living under a bridge, or just staying in a shelter," Hatcher said. "You need to have a roof over your head."
River Edge Behavioral Health has taken on the mission to build permanent homes for homeless people in Macon.
"We wanted to find out two things. Number one. Would people who are homeless and have a disability live in a small space like a tiny home? Then secondly, would the community accept tiny houses in their neighborhood? So, with our test bed on Maynard Street, we found out the answer to both of those is yes," Hatcher said.
The tiny ten cottages of Macon are coming together. Phase two started construction. Both phases one and two were paid for by River Edge and a grant from Bibb County.
"The River Edge Foundation put in a million dollars to help the development, so with the county’s money and the River Edge Foundation money, we was able to put this project together," Hatcher said.
River Edge isn’t just helping people find a home. They’re giving homeless people the opportunity to stay in these homes whether they have a job or not.
"So individuals who are homeless and have no income, the grant helps pay for their rent and utilities. If they do have a job or have income either SSI or SSDI, then 30% of their income goes to their rent," Hatcher said.
If people make progress by getting a job or increasing their income, Hatcher said they can still stay in their homes.
“Highlight the word permanent, and so they’ll stay there as long as they abide by the lease and the house rules and so our goal is not to evict anybody," Hatcher said.
To qualify to become a resident, you need to be homeless and have a disability. Those requirements will be verified by the Macon-Bibb Economic Opportunity Council.
Hatcher hopes the Tiny Cottages of Macon will be done in May. He said River Edge already has plans to start another homeless community later this year.