WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Mayor LaRhonda Patrick announced on Thursday the name for Warner Robins' first city-owned homeless shelter: Haven Hope House.
The city hoped to open before winter, but on Wednesday, the city shared that that won't happen.
People in Houston County can expect the doors to open in the second quarter of 2024. The city hopes this can happen in April.
Patrick describes creating the city's first homeless shelter as a journey.
"We're taking our time to get it right the first time. We're not rushing the process," she said.
The city is still in the beginning stages of the project, perfecting its design plan.
"Adding more bathrooms, adding more meeting spaces. Reducing some stuff in the kitchen," she said.
Patrick says the biggest setback is the health of the building. She says the building is very old.
"It has a brick facade in front of it, but there's water between the outer structure and the brick. There is concern of mold, mildew," she said.
Patrick says they plan to be aggressive about getting the doors open but that will depend on when they can clean it up.
"We still don't know the answer when it comes to the contaminants we have to pull the brick off the building, physically pull it off, take off some of the wall, the sheet rock to see what's behind there," she said. "Right now, we're saying second quarter of the new year."
However, Patrick says they are trying to get the project done as soon as they can.
"We're gonna do every single step right but we're still being aggressive with our timeline," she said.
Just around the corner from the future city shelter is Community Outreach Services Center. They've been open for nearly 24 years.
Melina Harless says they can house about 30 people, and a lot of them come in due to trouble getting housing.
"Where they're working at, they don't make enough, because apartments want them to make three times the rent," Harless said.
The non-profit has a side for men and a side for women and children.
"In times where you want the father to stay with the family then unfortunately we can't accommodate that," she said.
Harless says the community needs a place for families to stick together.
"We noticed there are sometimes a whole family living in a car so I think that is the bigger need," she said.
Patrick says they're working on that.
"We're looking at expanding and making room on the second floor which may make some room for families," Patrick said.
This winter, the city will bus unhoused individuals to the Table Church warming center. The Table Church worked with the city last year. Code Enforcement Officer Brian Wise says that shelter service will be available on dangerously cold nights.