Meeting Families With Dignity

A young mother arrived at our door with her two children, having just moved from Alabama. They had been living in their car and were in urgent need of shelter, food, and stability.

At CRITI, every new family starts with a conversation. We asked her to fill out our admissions form to better understand their situation, but more importantly, we met her with empathy, compassion, and a commitment to support her however we could.

We also provided information about other local resources that could meet her immediate needs while we start the admissions process. Then, noticing the name badge she wore, we looked up her company’s employee assistance program and shared the information with her. It was a small connection, but it opened another door of support she hadn’t realized was available.

In that moment, it was clear: support comes in many forms. It can be shelter, a warm meal, guidance through paperwork, or even knowledge about an unseen resource. Every piece matters. Every act of care can make a difference.

This young mother and her children were not alone. They had arrived at a place where someone would listen, meet them with dignity, and help them take the first steps toward stability. That is the heart of CRITI.

Something magical is growing at CRITI…

We are excited to welcome our new intern, Viktoriya Marushka

Viktoriya is an occupational therapy student at UTC and a first generation college student. She has always known she wanted to go into healthcare, and she loves occupational therapy for its creativity and its ability to help people in practical, meaningful ways.

She will be interning with us through April and has already hit the ground running. Viktoriya created a food and mealtime survey designed to help us better understand what barriers, if any, our residents face when it comes to choosing and preparing healthy food. This work will help us strengthen our support as residents transition to independent living.

We are grateful for Viktoriya’s initiative, creativity, and heart for service. We are lucky to have her as part of the CRITI community.

Interested in interning with Chattanooga Room in the Inn? We offer hands-on learning experiences that make a real impact for women and children working toward stability.

Sometimes Change Starts with a Hard Conversation

Our Aftercare Coach recently completed a first home visit with a client. It was their first time meeting and the first time stepping into her home. They talked about life, parenting, and the realities she is carrying every day. Some of the questions were personal, but they were asked with care, respect, and no judgment.

She shared her frustration, her exhaustion, and the weight of doing everything on her own. Her feelings were validated and her struggle was acknowledged. Most importantly, she was met with compassion and curiosity instead of assumptions.

Two weeks later, that same client called with an update and said things were improving. The children’s father was more involved and he was helping with pickups so she could work later. They had conversations about shared responsibility, and they created space for her to return to school.

Change happened because she felt supported, heard, and empowered to see new possibilities. She is now leveraging her resources, staying connected, and taking steps toward the future she wants for herself and her children.

This is the heart of our work. Sometimes asking the hard questions opens the door to hope, growth, and real transformation.

ACH Giving Now Available

Exciting news! You can now donate by ACH or bank transfer.

What does that mean? For donors, it’s a simple and secure way to give directly from a bank account instead of using a credit card. For us, it helps more of your donation go directly to supporting women and children experiencing homelessness. ACH transactions typically have lower processing fees than cards, so every dollar counts even more!

This Ship Hasn’t Sailed

When one of the residents arrived at Chattanooga Room in the Inn, Gina, our Lead Case Manager, asked her if she had ever thought about going back to school. Her answer was quick and heavy with doubt.



“That ship has sailed.”

But she came back with different news a couple weeks later. She had officially enrolled at Chattanooga State.

When Gina asked what changed, her answer stopped us in our tracks.

“I have the confidence now to do it. The life skills class has taught me I deserve everything I want and I deserve to be here. I walk with confidence now, with my head held high.”

This is what stability makes possible. When someone is safe, supported, and believed in, dreams that once felt out of reach begin to feel attainable. Confidence grows. Her futures open up.

We are so proud of her and deeply grateful to everyone who makes moments like this possible.