ALBANY, GA. -- They hang out on street corner, and although you may ignore them, it’s safe to say that Albany has a growing homeless problem.

Dean Shirley and Adam Bowden both found themselves at the Albany Rescue mission looking for help when they suddenly became homeless.  Bowden’s roommate kicked him out without any warning.  “He got involved with a girl and told me I had to find another place to live.  I literally didn't have no where else to go but the Albany Rescue Mission” says Bowden.  He says finding the shelter was a blessing because he was provided a place to sleep, eat, and they even helped with a dental bill that he couldn’t afford to pay.  Bowden works with the Mission now as a driver and says the best part is that his faith in people and in the lord has grown substantially. 

FOX 31 News also met Dean Shirley, a former homeless man who says the mission was his last hope.  “I was at the end of my rope and didn’t know which way to turn.  The mission was my family when I didn’t have any” says Shirley.  He adds that it’s easy to lose hope when you have nowhere to stay, no job, and don't know where your next meal will come from.  He says he can't put a dollar amount on the kind of help he's received.  “It’s immeasurable. The street would have just chewed me up I might not have been able to continue my life without their assistance” says Shirley.

Both men say when you’re on the receiving end it’s important to know where to get resources, however it’s not always the easiest to find them.  They explained when you don’t have access to a phone, computer, or have a permanent way to be contacted - you enter survival mode.  Bowden says just like it’s a full time job to look for work, it’s a full time job to find resources to help get back on your feet when you’ve lost everything.  Bowden and Shirley volunteer at the mission because they say it’s important to give back to the organization that helped them in order to give others hope.

A Place 4 Hope is the newest resource center for Albany’s homeless, but they don’t serve hot meals, they give services most people take for granted.  For example the center has provides shower and laundry facilities and access to phones and a computer.  In addition they provide lockers and a resource center.

The center’s resource center has brochures, pamphlets, and information to help with issues like education, substance abuse, and literacy.  Mark Amspaugh with A Place 4 Hope say the resource center is more than about just handing someone a brochure it’s about walking them through the steps to get to the next level.  “The center is able to really connect them to people who are genuinely concerned about their future and their wellbeing and it goes back towards establishing that need for hope” says Amspaugh.

David Blackwell says the creation of A Place 4 Hope had been in the works for two years before the vision became reality.  He says the reason they offer a different kind of service is to help the homeless who are committed to becoming stable reach the next level.  “You and I take for granted what it means to have a hot shower, to have your laundry done, and to have people who genuinely care about your situation.  We care, and we want to help them get enrolled in school, find permanent housing, get clean, get identification, become computer literate, we’re here to give them hope and walk them through the process” says Blackwell.

Both organizations say they could not exist without the help of their volunteers.

To get involved with the Albany Rescue Mission click here..

To get involved with A Place 4 Hope click here.