LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — With temperatures expected to be below freezing Friday night, a Lebanon nonprofit is opening its doors early for people without homes.
Compassionate Hands officials told News 2 they fear they'll be at capacity this year as they continue to see the number of people experiencing homelessness rise.
According to Shelia Weathers with Compassionate Hands, the nonprofit has been operating in Lebanon for 11 years. The organization initially relied on churches.
"We now are a network of 45 churches that are involved with serving the homeless, the unhoused in Lebanon and Wilson County," Weathers said.
In 2020, the nonprofit opened its building in Lebanon, where cots and blankets fill the rooms.
"We are normally at capacity, especially by January," Weathers told News 2.
With the increasing number of people in Wilson County, the unhoused population is also growing, according to Weathers.
"Even the ones that are trying hard with getting jobs and trying to get settled, they can’t make enough to live in an apartment, and the Lebanon Housing Authority list is very long," Weathers explained.
While Compassionate Hands officially opens its doors on Sunday, Dec. 1, Weathers told News 2 the nonprofit is opening early just for Friday, Nov. 29 because of the freezing temperatures forecasted for the night.
"We do have a capacity, so we pray that we won't hit that capacity and have to turn people away, but it's a possibility...We pray we see less people this winter -- that it's less people, not more," Weathers said.
Compassionate Hands will remain open every night from this Sunday until March 15, 2025. It takes 25 volunteers to run each night, so if you’re interested in volunteering, click here.