Augusta, GA

As homeless count begins, volunteers expect higher numbers

Published

2 years ago

January 22, 2024

As homeless count begins, volunteers expect higher numbers

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Homelessness is a growing problem in Augusta, and we’ll soon get an idea about how much it’s growing.

On Monday, volunteers went out across Augusta to start the annual homeless census.

Every year on the last 10 days of January, communities conduct a “point in time” count of the homeless.

This year, Augusta’s count started Monday and will last through Jan. 31.

Shelter preps and counts are taking place at the Center of Hope, the Augusta Rescue Mission, and Garden City Rescue. They’re all wrapping up by 7 p.m.

Then comes the heavy prep for the nighttime count outside in the community, where officials with 80 to 100 volunteers will take the count, asking questions and providing care to those in the community experiencing homelessness.

It’s all hands on deck to find out how many people need a helping hand around Augusta.

“It’s been enlightening to the community to have that many volunteers that want to see it. And they’re going to pull behind the curtain a little bit,” said District 7 Commissioner Sean Frantom.

Frantom has been on multiple “point in time” counts and says while the work isn’t easy, it’s an important part of learning where Augusta’s homeless issue stems from.

“It’s interesting. You learn their different stories. Some of them are stories that’ll break your heart because you understand that maybe they just lost a job. They’re trying to find work, their veterans. There are so many different situations and you truly learn, you know, everybody in your community,” he said.

600 care packages were prepared by the Marion Barnes Center, 100 of them donated by Warren Baptist Church.

Volunteers are gathering at 9 p.m. to ask questions and get information until 6 a.m.

They don’t want to miss anyone. Shawn Rhodes with the Richmond County Marshal’s Office says the count isn’t just to get numbers by the beginning of the year, but to give out life-saving equipment to anyone they encounter when the weather is colder.

“There was a time when we could hardly even get volunteers to assist us in the last few years. I think there’s been a big, big push to educate the community and our partners on the need and now they have just come out in droves is amazing and everyone is completely excited about getting together and rallying up,” said Rhodes.

It’s a year-round effort, that once a year brings dozens together.

Janelys Villalta, with PR and Marketing at the Salvation Army of Augusta, said: “We’re always going to be able to find better ways to serve the community if we work together.”

In 2022, Augusta found 576 people experiencing homelessness. In 2023, the count grew to 643.

The count may shed light on how many of the homeless originated locally or came from elsewhere after being referred here due to the resources available in Augusta.

We do know the face of homelessness is changing.

“Homelessness looks like you and me. It looks like the child sitting next to your child in school. It looks like the doctor that may be providing care for you. It could be your attorney. It could be the person serving you at McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A, we never know who is experiencing homelessness,” said Bethany Trapp, program coordinator for Marion Barnes Assessment and Referral Center for the Homeless.

As they count the homeless and hand out “survival kits,” the roughly 150 volunteers expect to find even higher numbers.

“They’re at least double that are experiencing homelessness in Augusta. We want to try and make sure that we encapsulate all of that during this count so that we get a true number,” Trapp said. “Homelessness is fluid. There’s a lot of times where we may not find them in encampments.”

THE SCHEDULE:

FACES OF HOMELESSNESS IN AUGUSTA:

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Augusta, GA

Augusta’s Turpin neighborhood to get affordable homes with $1.85M federal grant

Published

4 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Augusta’s Turpin neighborhood to get affordable homes with .85M federal grant

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The historic Turpin neighborhood will soon welcome more affordable homes after Augusta Habitat for Humanity was awarded $1.85 million in federal funding this week.

The grant will fund the construction of at least 12 homes in the area.

“Habitat for Humanity applied for federal funding, and they were awarded the funding,” said District 2 Commissioner Stacy Pulliam.

Reviving a historic community

The Turpin neighborhood was once home to professionals, including educators, doctors, and lawyers.

“These big professionals that lived mostly over this way,” one resident said of the neighborhood’s history.

Pulliam described the area’s former prominence as “its grand days of glory, when it was the place.”

The project brings together city organizers and community partners through the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing, or GICH.

“We have so many partners. We have the Housing Authority on board. We have a representative from the Hub on board,” Pulliam said. “There’s so many great partners at the table that’s helping pull all of this together.”

Federal support and future plans

The project received backing from Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

Habitat for Humanity, with support from GICH, focused its application on Turpin Hill intentionally, as officials say the community had been needing to be addressed for years.

With Habitat for Humanity continuing to advocate for more funds, Pulliam said their motivation could lead to additional housing development in the future.

“We keep going and going and going,” she said. “Now we can do 20. Now we can do multifamily. So it’s fueling our fire to get more housing, but not just housing, to clean up the area.”

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Augusta, GA

Trump to sign emergency order to pay TSA agents as Augusta airport preps for golf week

Published

16 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Trump to sign emergency order to pay TSA agents as Augusta airport preps for golf week

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – President Donald Trump said he will sign an emergency declaration to pay TSA agents, as nearly 500 have quit since the shutdown began.

More than 40 percent of Atlanta’s TSA agents did not show up on Wednesday, leading to long lines at Atlanta’s airport and across the country. It is unclear when President Trump will sign the emergency order. TSA workers will miss their second paycheck Friday.

In a statement on Truth Social, President Trump said, “I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation.”

The president thanked TSA agents. The Department of Homeland Security as a whole will not be funded at this time. The Coast Guard and FEMA are among the agencies still impacted.

If senators do not reach a deal to fund the department on Friday, they are set for a two-week recess.

Augusta airport prepares for tournament week

TSA workers are a concern as tournament week approaches in Augusta. Security and safety are also concerns after a plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport.

Augusta Regional Airport and its fire department are working to keep visitors safe as they fly in for tournament week.

William Kovalchuk, a sergeant with the Augusta Airport Fire Department, operates an airport-specific fire truck.

“There’s a ton of traffic and a ton of congestion. This whole ramp area where I showed you guys a little bit ago, it’ll be completely filled with aircraft,” Kovalchuk said.

Tournament week sees the regional airport become a global hub, with flights in from 13 extra cities and more than 200 private planes parked on the tarmac.

Lauren Smith, deputy director of Augusta Regional Airport, said the airport works closely with the FAA during tournament week.

“During that time, we actually work very closely with the FAA to bring in additional controllers,” Smith said.

Extra controllers keep the airspace and runway safe. Enhanced safety measures are in place inside the terminal as well.

“Overall, everyone brings in more staff. The tenants, the rental car agencies, the airlines, the airport itself,” Smith said.

The fire department stages a second station across the airport to cover every flight.

“The manning will be stepped up quite a bit,” Kovalchuk said. “We don’t want to see anything happen, but we’re prepared for it.”

The airport said the average wait time is still less than an hour to get through security during tournament week.

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Augusta, GA

Jefferson County library director named Georgia Library Director of the Year

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Jefferson County library director named Georgia Library Director of the Year

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Georgia Library Director of the Year was honored at a ceremony in Jefferson County.

Christina Shepherd received the award and a county proclamation. Jefferson County officials also honored the library board during the ceremony.

“I’m very thankful. I think it’s great for Jefferson County to have this award brought here and bringing light to us,” Shepherd said. “I don’t think I do anything extraordinary that any librarian wouldn’t do, but I just keep doing it. I appreciate it. I’m thankful.”

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