But with all the help that's being offered, Search, a local organization helping the homeless, estimates more than 14,000 are living on city streets, 40 percent of those are families.
"Unfortunately these days people don't make enough money to afford rent, and food and if you have children, child care," said Thao Costis, Search, Associate Executive Director
The Luhn family said it was a combination of bad choices that got them on the street.
"Before where did you sleep? on the ground with the ants," said 7-year-old, Brittney Luhn.
Now, thanks to strangers they have a place to stay.
"I just want to say God bless them cuz they helped us out," said Savannah.
More importantly helped put a smile on their faces.
Ashley Greene will have to pay off at least $6,000 in student loans when she graduates from Valdosta State University. Without them I probably wouldnt be in college, she said. But the graduate of Union Grove High School, at 20, is not too worried about how she will pay off her student loans. She said she knows just about how much she can handle in student debt. Student borrowing has increased substantially from 1993 to 2004, though levels vary for graduates of different degree programs, according to a brief from the American Council on Education Center for Policy Analysis. The center focuses on issues such as financial aid.Greene, a full-time student at Valdosta, said that planning to pay for college is more than just a passing concern for her.I knew that I would have to work and take out a student loan, said Greene, who also receives Georgias HOPE Scholarship, which is available to high schools students who graduate with at least a B average.