Representatives from a Hinesville church that opened its doors to the homeless during the recent cold snap are asking the city for help.

Bethel AME Church on Gause Street provided shelter to 47 people over the two weeks of recent cold weather that descended upon coastal Georgia, Larry Miles told Hinesville City Council members.

“All of them had a different story to tell,” Miles said. “We were not concerned why they were in that condition. We were concerned about how we could help them get on their feet to become positive citizens again.”

Miles added the church and volunteers who helped were concerned with how to get those who came to them for assistance could become productive members of the community. Several of those they helped took that seriously, Miles said.

The church is helping them by taking them to job interviews and to get new clothing, even getting their current clothing cleaned. Miles added the church and its volunteers have helped those homeless who sought their assistance get their hygiene improved.

“We need to look at the next step,” Miles said. “It’s an unfortunate event that is happening all across the nation. It is right here in Hinesville we have to start to take the next step.”

The city was scheduled to conduct its Point In Time count, a federally- mandated snapshot of the city’s homeless, on January 26. The count includes the sheltered homeless every year and the unsheltered homeless every other year, and 2026 is a year to conduct that count. That means having volunteers go to those living in places not meant for habitation, such as vehicles and tents.

Hinesville also has had a potent homeless prevention program for many years, including its rapid rehousing and its collaboration with local hotels to provide spaces for the homeless in times of extreme weather.

Miles asked for more help to be directed toward the issue. Another Chance Outreach Ministries also brought its aid to bear during the cold snap, Miles said.

“We understand we can pop up a building overnight and we can’t man it 24-7,” he said. “But whatever we can do to help them get back on their feet, we need to take this more seriously.”

Miles acknowledged not everybody who is homeless is looking for help, citing the case of one woman who frequents downtown Hinesville and prefers to be homeless.

“She has a family,” he said. “She has a daughter who gets her and takes her to her house and she goes right back on the street.”

Miles said talking with the homeless they help gives the volunteers a better understanding of the homeless population.

“We can’t turn up our nose when we see them walking down the street,” he said. “If we can get one pointed in the right direction, we are doing our job to help. We are truly successful when we reach back to help those who are in need.”