July 2026

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Our New Gardens Are Growing More Than Vegetables

This summer, Child Advocate Jessica, interns Jenna and Emma, and volunteer Jude got their hands in the soil and planted our newest garden beds. The squash, watermelon, and lettuce they planted will be harvested and donated to feed the giraffes at the Chattanooga Zoo, and we honestly can't handle how cute that is.

Every garden bed at Chattanooga Room in the Inn exists for child enrichment because getting kids outside and in charge of something living teaches responsibility, builds confidence, and gives them the powerful feeling of knowing their efforts matter for themselves, and for others too, even very tall, very spotted others.

Thank you to this crew for bringing it to life. CRITI kids are already proud of what they're growing, and something tells us the giraffes are going to love it.

Welcome to Our New

Board Members

We are delighted to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors.

Each of them brings unique experience, insight, and a shared passion for our mission. Their leadership and commitment will help guide our organization as we continue to grow our impact and serve our community.

Please join us in welcoming our newest board members and thanking them for their willingness to serve. We are grateful for the time, talent, and heart they are investing in our mission, and we look forward to all we will accomplish together.

Dr. Robin Sturnes

John "JJ" Jerman

Steven Klein

Brandon Morales

Home Sweet Home

A little one decorated the mailbox outside their room with those three little sweet words.

For children who have experienced the uncertainty of homelessness, claiming a space as their own and calling it home is a profound and beautiful thing. Their tiny note on the mailbox outside Room Eight says more about what we do here than any words we could write.

Thank you for trusting us with your family.

Life Skills Instructor Highlight

We love getting to celebrate the life skills instructors who pour their time and talent into our Life Skills program, and we're excited to spotlight Jennifer Wallace!

Jennifer is driven by a deep passion for strengthening families and creating lasting change. She holds dual bachelor's degrees in Communication and English from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Vanguard University of Southern California. She has dedicated her career to uplifting women in crisis and supporting parents on their journeys.

Jennifer serves as the Community Engagement Specialist for Safe Families for Children at Bethany Christian Services, and she brings that same heart for service right into our program.

Each month, Jennifer facilitates Parent Cafés for our residents, creating warm, supportive spaces where women can connect, share openly, build healthy relationships, strengthen their parenting skills, and find encouragement through community and conversation.

Jennifer, thank you for showing up for our moms month after month with such dedication and care. What you create in that room matters more than you know.

The Work Continues: A Look At Our Aftercare Program

Graduation day at Chattanooga Room in the Inn is a milestone worth celebrating, but it's not the finish line. It's the beginning of the next chapter, and we walk into it right alongside our graduates.

Our aftercare program follows graduates for up to twelve months after they leave our shelter, providing ongoing support, twice-monthly check-ins, and connection to resources across all five of our focus areas: health, housing, finances, family, and career. We know stability is not built in a day, and the women who trust us with their journey deserve to know we're not going anywhere just because they've moved on.

Right now, sixteen women are active in our aftercare program, and the progress they're making is nothing short of inspiring. One is growing her own business, two are actively rebuilding their credit, and alll sixteen are continuing to move forward, maintaining the stability they worked so hard to build during their time with us.

Their children are thriving too! Five kids in our aftercare program are receiving tutoring in reading and math, and one is working on speech.

This is what long-term investment in a family looks like and these are the results.

Welcome to Our 2026 Summer Interns

Emma Hill is our Operations Intern for the summer. A rising junior at the University of Arizona majoring in Applied Humanities with an emphasis in Public Health, Emma proudly calls Cleveland, Tennessee home. She was drawn to CRITI's mission and welcoming team from the very beginning, and she has jumped into every task with enthusiasm and heart. We are so glad she is here.

Sophia Pollard joins us as our first-ever Fundraising Intern. A junior at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville studying Political Science and Global Studies, Sophia is passionate about creating systemic change and making people feel loved and seen. She's identifying potential sponsors, building car dealership partnerships, researching federal grants, and developing a community engagement calendar. We are so grateful she chose CRITI and can't wait to see what she accomplishes.

Jenna McClure joins us as our Child Advocacy Intern. A student at Covenant College studying Community Development, Jenna is originally from Washington D.C. and is passionate about inclusive communities, special needs education, and the power of music and arts. She brings curiosity, creativity, and a genuine love for people to everything she does.

Invite us to come speak to your group!

Want to learn more about what we do at Chattanooga Room in the Inn?

We love sharing our mission with businesses, groups, churches, and community organizations across Chattanooga. We'd love the opportunity to tell you about the women and children we serve and how your community can get involved.

Reach out to us to schedule a visit. We'd love to meet you!

Email Adrienne Koon, Director of Development at akoon@chattanoogaroomintheinn.com or call 423-713-7059.

Year-Round Impact Made Possible By Our Annual Sponsors

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

Sponsors are 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

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!