Bigger Vision Community Shelter

Who We Are:Bigger Vision is a winter emergency shelter.
We house 34 guests every night from mid-October to mid-April.
When the shelter opens at 6:00 PM, our guests receive a hot homemade meal provided by volunteers in the community, access to showers and laundry machines on an alternating schedule, encouragement and relaxation through conversations and games with volunteers and other guests, a comfortable bed for the night, breakfast in the morning, and help connecting with other organizations in Athens that can help them get back on their feet.

Mission:To provide a safe and comfortable environment during the winter for those in homelessness in Athens, GA.

Core Values:
Impartial
All guests are treated equally without favoritism. Every person has the same opportunity to stay and continue to stay each night during the season.
 
Safe
Our guests are protected from the inclement weather and are afforded an environment free of the fear of harm or danger
Comfortable
Bigger Vision is a home for our guests and a home away from home for many of our volunteers.

Faith-based
We believe God exists, and that He has given us this mission to bring Him glory. We rely on Him to supply success in all of our efforts and plans. Local
We are run and funded almost entirely by volunteers that come from the Greater Athens Area. Guests Requirements:We invite 34 individuals to stay with us each night from mid-October through mid-April. We accept both male and female guests, but all guests must be at least 18 years old. Guests should be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of coping in a communal environment and able to take care of themselves without the assistance of our staff or volunteers. Guests will be held accountable to any and all shelter rules at all times, and shelter rules are subject to change as needed.

What We Offer:
Evening meal provided by volunteers from the community
Showers on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Laundry on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Library of reading materials
Information about services available in Athens
Comfortable bedSafe environment
Toiletries as needed
Warm hats, gloves, scarves, and socks as needed
Breakfast in the morning

How Do You Become A Guest?Call (706) 340-6062 at 4:00 pm daily to secure an invitation.
There are only 34 slots, and those slots are filled in the order the calls are received.No group calling is allowed. Each individual must call in separately, even if they are using the same phone.
Arrive at the shelter at 6:00 PM
You must have received a confirmation of your invitation before coming to the shelter. Do not enter the property before 6:00 PM.Do not block the parking lot or entrance.Arrivals after 6:15 are not guaranteed an evening meal.
All guests must be in the shelter no later than 8:00 pm. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis at our discretion. What We Do Not Offer:
We do not offer Services to individuals without an invitation that night
We do not offer Guaranteed Extended Stays
We do not offer Shelter for Families with Minor Children
We do not offer Services from 7:00 AM to 5:59 PM
We do not offer Storage of Personal belongings beyond your nightly stay
We do not offer Excessive Storage of Personal Belongings during your stay, to be determined by us
We do not offer Medical Services of any kind
We do not offer Mail or Package Delivery of any kind
We do not offer Transportation Services of any kind
We do not offer Financial Assistance of any kind
We do not offer Food Storage or To Go Meals