April 2026

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Thrift Store

Chattanooga Room in the Inn

Launches Program

for Homeless Youth

For many teenagers experiencing homelessness in Hamilton County, the struggle is nearly invisible. No parent or guardian to turn to, no stable place to sleep, and somehow still expected to show up to school and build a future.

Chattanooga Room in the Inn is doing something about that.

We are proud to announce the launch of our Unaccompanied Youth Program, a pilot initiative designed to provide shelter, stability, and wraparound support for young people ages 16 to 18 who are navigating housing instability on their own.

Developed in partnership with Hamilton County Schools, the program connects youth with safe shelter, educational advocacy, academic tutoring, case management, life skills training, and trauma-informed care, all with the goal of helping them stay in school and build a path toward independence.

Hamilton County Schools will identify eligible students through the district's Families in Transition office and work alongside our team to monitor progress and connect youth with additional resources.

This is new ground for our organization, and we couldn't be more proud of the work being done to serve some of our community's most vulnerable young people.

Youth homelessness is often invisible. We're determined to change that.

Moving Day Practice

Before a family moved into their new home last month, the daughter in the family practiced. She gathered up her things, tucked them under her arms, and proudly said, “Bye, we’re moving into our new house.”

For her, it was pretend, but in reality, it was the result of months of hard work, stability, and rebuilding.

At Chattanooga Room in the Inn, families spend their time here focusing on the things that create lasting change: stable housing, financial stability, career goals, and strong family foundations.

That work becomes real as this family took the next step into a home of their own. And a little girl got the moment she’d been practicing for.

Your New Volunteer Coordinator

Everyone welcome Libby Preston!

Our volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do, from providing warm meals and child enrichment, to offering the dignity and community that every person deserves. And now we have an incredible new leader to help grow, support, and celebrate that amazing team.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Libby moved to Chattanooga five years ago with her family for the warmer weather, beautiful scenery, and welcoming community. She brings more than 15 years of experience in social services, volunteer leadership, and supporting families and children. While taking a pause from paid work to stay home with her two kids, she remained deeply connected to her community through meaningful volunteer opportunities.

Libby earned her Master's in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and spent several years working in child welfare, supporting kinship caregivers with the placement of relative children in the foster care system. Her experience across child welfare, community nonprofits and volunteer opportunities has shaped a deep commitment to showing up for people in their most vulnerable moments.

The mission of Chattanooga Room in the Inn resonates strongly with Libby’s core values of service, community care, and social justice. She believes that everyone deserves dignity, safety and a community that shows up for them. Libby is thrilled to join this dedicated team, partnering with the volunteers and staff who make CRITI’s mission come alive every day. Committed to building a more just and compassionate Chattanooga, she is excited to contribute both her heart and her professional experience to a mission she deeply believes in.

Welcome aboard, Libby, we are so glad you're here!

Sometimes the impact of this work is best captured by the people who have lived it.

A recent graduate shared this message with our Lead Case Manager, Gina, after completing the program:

"Thank you so much. So grateful for everything you guys have done for me and my children. You guys were a light when I was in a dark place. Thank you sooo much, Gina. You rock."

Safe housing, steady support, and someone who believes in you can make all the difference when a family is facing one of the hardest seasons of their lives. We are proud of every woman who does the hard work of rebuilding, and grateful for team members like Gina who walk alongside them every step of the way.

Stability Doesn't Stop at Graduation

"This is the next step I need to take to not get back to where I was."

Those words came from one of our CRITI graduates, and they say everything about the kind of clarity and determination we get to witness in this work.

Graduating from CRITI is a major milestone, but it's not the finish line. Our aftercare coach stays connected with graduates for an additional 12 months after they leave the program, making monthly in-home visits to check in on housing, health, finances, family, and career. Because stability isn't a one-time achievement. It has to be built, tended to, and supported over time.

We are so proud of the women who do this hard work every single day, and we're committed to walking with them every step of the way.

Moments From the Garden

Something is growing at Chattanooga Room in the Inn!

This spring so far, the children at our shelter have been busy in the garden, planting all kinds of seeds, building birdhouses, and getting their hands in the soil.

For kids who have experienced instability and uncertainty, nurturing something from a tiny seed into a living plant is no small thing. It builds responsibility, patience, and a quiet kind of confidence that carries beyond the garden.

And then there's a momma robin who found her way into our strawberry plant and made herself a nest. She's keeping careful watch over her eggs while the children work nearby, building little homes for birds just like her.

We couldn't have planned a better picture of what we're trying to do here. Creating safety, stability, and the conditions for growth, for every living thing that finds its way to us.

National Social Work Month

March was National Social Work Month, and we are so grateful for the team members at Chattanooga Room in the Inn who show up every day for the women and children in our program.

Gina, Airiyanna, Jessica, and Barbara each play a vital role, from individualized case management and child advocacy to aftercare support that continues long after families move into housing. Their patience, compassion, and dedication make our mission possible.

Last month, Viktoriya (a CRITI intern) and Airiyanna also represented us at the Social Work Field Fair, connecting with future social workers and sharing about the work we do. Hearing Airiyanna speak about her passion for this work was a beautiful reminder of why it matters.

Thank you to our case managers for the heart you bring to this work every day. Because of you, women and children in our community have the support they need to build brighter futures.

How Our Thrift Store Serves Our Families

Our thrift store does more than raise funds. It's a direct resource for the women and families we serve.

Residents at CRITI can shop for clothing at no cost throughout the program. But one of our favorite thrift store moments comes at the end of the journey. Every family who completes the program walks away with a voucher to shop for the household items they need to settle into their new home. A cozy throw blanket, a set of dishes, the everyday comforts that make a house feel like home. Our graduates have earned every single one.

It's our way of saying: congratulations, you did it, now go make that place yours.

Donations of furniture and household goods keep this program going for every family who crosses that finish line. If you have gently used items you're ready to pass on, we would love to put them to work for our mission.

Year-Round Impact Made Possible By Our Annual Sponsors

Our new Annual Sponsorship program gives businesses the chance to gain year-round marketing visibility while supporting women and children experiencing homelessness.

Sponsors will be featured across TV, radio, print, digital and paid social media, as well as CRITI’s website, newsletter, and events. Every marketing opportunity keeps CRITI at the center, connecting your business with a trusted local nonprofit and the families we serve.

Become a sponsor and join us in making a lasting impact while sharing your commitment with the community.

Annual Sponsor Info

Chattanooga Boutique Warehouse

Claire from Creative Discovery Museum

Random Acts of Flowers

Nordson Medical

Shelter to Stability Donor Society

Join the Shelter to Stability Donor Society and make a meaningful impact in the lives of women and children in our program. Your dedication can transform into essential resources like clean clothes, mental health counseling, and life skills classes, all of which contribute to a path toward stable living. Together, we can create a brighter future for those in need.

Thank you to our current donor society members!