Nov 19 | Athens, GA 

Story Highlights 

• Bigger Vision Homeless Shelter brings in 10 extra beds when temps hit 35°F.
• They normally host 36 people.
• On Monday night, they brought in 6 extra people. 
• On Tuesday night, they brought in 5 extra people. 
• Bigger Vision employees say that they filled up their 36 bed capacity in 5 minutes. 

“This weather, you know if it wasn’t for this place I’d be dead.”

This isn’t Ron Verraneault’s first visit to Bigger Vision. When he stays here he gets a roof over his head, warm bed…and a hot meal… 

With temperatures dipping down below freezing at night, community shelters like Bigger Vision are helping people have more than just a place to rest their head at night. 

“I take the phone calls every night at 4 pm, and we took 36 phone calls at 4:05,” says Ed Moore. Moore is the Executive Director of Bigger Vision.

It’s what always happens when the weather drops below freezing…the shelter allows ten extra guests but they arent guaranteed beds. 

“Coming in at eight really just guarantees they will get in out of the weather, it doesnt guarantee they will get a meal or really get a full nights sleep,” says Moore.

That’s because once Verraneault and 35 others fill up the available beds…the rest will have to find a free space but in the cold weather it can make a life saving difference.