WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — It’s estimated that Warner Robins has about 150 people that are living on the streets.
For the first time, the city could create its own hub and shelter for those in need.
"I knew God had a plan, I just didn't know what his plan was," Brian Wise said.
An act of kindness started the conversation that could soon serve hundreds.
"We had a guy that was on Carl Vinson, he was staying in a buggy covered up in blankets and all, and I stopped to check on him and he said, 'Officer Wise, can you help me? I don't have anywhere to go,'” he recalled.
Brian Wise, a code enforcement officer, says he often talks with Warner Robins homeless
After his many encounters he took his plan to the mayor.
"I have a heart for the homeless, the mayor has a heart for the homeless. I went to her and she said, 'What do we need to do?' and both of us agreed that we need to have a homeless shelter here," Wise said.
On Thursday, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick and 27 others from around Central Georgia discussed a plan to curb the city's homelessness.
"All these people are coming together, showing us what our options are, what resources we have for funding and different avenues we can take to procure a building and accomplish a mission were set to achieve," she said.
Along with Patrick, churches, mayors of surrounding cities, and nonprofits discussed creating a coalition and a resource guide for the homeless. The mayor says she wants a hub where all who offer resources for the homeless can work together.
"Everyone has their own mission, the thing that they do well, whatever they offer to the homeless community, but having one space where everyone mission is invited to serve is what we're attempting to do,” the Mayor said.
"It's in God's hands now. I mean, he planned this meeting for us. He got all the people there at the right time,” Wise said.
Wise says they have been looking at buildings around the city that would serve the entire county.
He also says Patrick’s administration would be the first in the city to open a hub for the homeless.
The mayor says she and her team will meet again next month to move the project forward.