A local pastor spent Thursday night providing a warm shelter for people who are homeless in his city.
Since the start of the winter season, Pastor Kevin Riggs drives around Franklin taking people off the streets and putting them into a warm place when temperatures drop below freezing.
"The guys that we take in are local meaning they all grew up here and they graduated from our high schools and for different reasons they just find themselves in the streets," he said.
Riggs said he wants to shed light on an issue mostly kept in the dark.
"There's been an increase of people who are living in their cars over the last year or so in Franklin. We're a city that is known for its wealth and we do have this problem and as we grow, this problem will grow. There's not an effort to address the problem," Riggs said.
There are no warming centers in Franklin like surrounding cities such as Nashville, so Riggs rotates between three make-shift places, one of which is a warehouse. He's only able to provide a place for the homeless to stay at night.
"When it becomes day time...they'll sit around a fire, they'll go into stores, laundry mats. If they go into a business and stay too long, they're asked to leave. If we had a more permanent place, there's more things that could be done I think, instead of saying 'OK' that's it, until tomorrow, until the nightfall," he said.
Riggs, who sits on some city advisory boards, has built relationships over the years with those living on the streets. He said he's hoping city officials will step in one day.
"So if the churches would come together then I think getting it approved by the city would not be too difficult. If it's just an individual trying to do it then I think it gets more difficult
"It averages four or five (guys), this winter we've averaged about six or seven guys. There are about a dozen guys who live on the streets in Franklin. The overall homeless in the county depending on who you talk to is anywhere from 300 to 600 people. Most of them are what they call couch dwellers," he mentioned.
Until a more permanent solution evolves, Riggs said he'll continue his calling to serving others. If you would like to learn more, contact Kevin Riggs at kevin@franklincommunitychurch.org or call 615-440-7553. Winter clothing donations can be dropped off at the community center located on 233 Natchez Street in Franklin.
