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'Everything that I ever needed is already right here': Formerly unhoused Warner Robins man forges future

In 2021, we shared Gregory Miller's story about how he was advocating more more accessible permanent housing. Today, he's still striving to help others.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Gregory "Grigby" Miller is an author, a poet and a man of faith.

"Life has just been good," he said, smiling on the couch in his apartment.

He used to live on a mattress in the back of his friend's convenience store, but today, he has his own place, and he'll soon be on the way to move to a new one.

In 2021, when we first met Grigby, he advocated for more accessible permanent housing. 

"I wish I was healthy and somehow quite wealthy, but then I'd be like the kings. But as nice as it seems, there are nothing but dreams, so I'll get off that cloud, for crying out loud and see what tomorrow brings," Grigsby said, reciting his poetry.

Grigby said he's the middle child and "the black sheep" of his family.

"I went through a lot of different things growing up," he said.

His mom saw something in him when he was young, Grigby explained, which is why he continues to write today.

"I'd write and write and write, and she'd say-- why don't you do something with that stuff?" Grigby said.

In her honor, he even wrote a poem for Mother's Day: "You raised me as a teacher, sometimes a preacher. A star in every feature."

It's one of the ways he keeps her memory alive, the poet explained.

With his papers and pens, he does because everything he's ever needed to succeed was already within him. 

"I'm finding out now everything that I ever needed is already right here" Grigby said, patting his chest. "I don't need anything, I don't need a warehouse, I don't need stock. I just needed to enhance it." 

Grigby is from Philadelphia and moved to Central Georgia in the 1970s, then again in 2009 when he fell on hard times, including homelessness.

We shared Grigby's story in 2021 when he was sleeping in the back of a friend's convenience store.

"That next day, programs came out of everywhere," he said.

Programs like Volunteers of America and the Georgia Community Affairs Office helped Grigby after seeing 13WMAZ's story air.

"They go through these programs, and they put 'em through this, and they put 'em through that, and then they become discouraged," Grigby said. "I'm trying to set the examples. I do it in my writing; I do it in everything. I even wrote a thing about being homeless and about going on TV."

That poem reads:

"Thank you for returning, to see, 

How I am doing.

You've paved the way to my 

Survival.

You inspired me to keep on going.

When I was lost, and homeless you

Put me on my feet.

I'm in a brand new apartment, and

I am no longer, on the street.

I still have my up's and downs, as 

Many of us do.

But I'm stronger now, and it's all

Because of you.

Thank you."

Grigby's story is an inspiration to all of us in the Central Georgia community.

Soon, he said, he'll be on his way to a newer neighborhood.

"I'm gonna be the first occupant in my new apartment!"

On this journey we call life, he wants to send a message to anyone who's in the position he was once in.

"You can only go so far down when you have nowhere else to go but up," Grigby said.

Resources in Central Georgia:

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