Macon-Bibb County, River Edge unveil tiny cottages for homeless and mental health support

New East Macon tiny cottages offer hope and housing for those facing homelessness and mental health challenges

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Macon-Bibb County and River Edge Behavioral Health hosted an open house ceremony and tour of the Tiny Cottages of Macon on Friday.

The newly-completed homes in East Macon will offer a second chance to those in the area who are homeless or suffer from mental health or substance abuse disabilities. River Edge partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Macon-Bibb County to fund the project. Elaine Lucas, the District 3 Commissioner, says she was proud to be able to vote in support of this initiative.

“Developments like this where you can officially cut the ribbon and say to people, ‘We’ve cut into that number of people who needed housing,’ I think any time we can do that, that’s a wonderful day,” Lucas said.

Timothy Hart, a long-time patient of River Edge Behavioral Health, told 41NBC this isn’t the first time River Edge has been there to help him get back on his feet after legal issues and substance abuse, but he hopes it is the last.

“River Edge gives me the power to be able to spend time with my children, my grandchildren, and be able to be a part of society not from the point to where I got to result back to the old tactics that I used to use,” Hart said. “That gives me a chance to actually understand that there is a better way of life. There is another side.”

Hart encouraged others in the area to seek help if they are having issues with their mental health.

“Go down there and talk to the people,” Hart said. “For me, I know that mental health is serious, and it runs rampant in our community. And for those that don’t think they have it, you might want to just come down there and just get a checkup.”