Mayor says Statesboro has no plan to build a downtown homeless shelter; ad hoc committee to study housing instability

Mayor Jonathan McCauley used the May 6 meeting to clarify the purpose of a recently formed mayoral ad hoc committee on housing instability and homelessness, and to deny reports that the city plans to build a homeless shelter in downtown Statesboro.

McCauley told the council the committee’s purpose is to study housing instability and transitional housing gaps so the city can identify options and recommendations. He said the committee will examine how families fall into gaps between leases and moves and how the city might help people during those transitions.

"I would just like to say that the city of Statesboro has no plans on building a homeless shelter in Downtown Statesboro," McCauley said during his remarks. He added the committee is tasked with research and study and that any policy decisions would come only after substantial evidence and council consideration. McCauley thanked Council Member Barr and Councilwoman Shavers (in her absence) for serving on the ad hoc committee.

The mayor also emphasized the council’s intent to balance assistance for vulnerable residents with continued economic opportunity for business owners and developers. The remarks were presented as clarification rather than as a formal council directive; the mayor said the committee is a fact‑finding body and not an instruction to construct facilities.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; McCauley’s comments were informational and intended to correct public misunderstandings.