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Planned Giving

July 2025

Big News and Even Bigger Gratitude

When Brandon Newman with Daikin heard about our fundraiser for two failing HVAC units, he did more than just take interest, he took action. He worked with Daikin to donate both units to CRITI, then contacted Action Air, a locally-operated, family-owned HVAC company, who generously offered to donate all the labor to install them.

Crews arrived yesterday to begin the complex install process, which may have included cutting into ceilings, navigating our attic space, and preparing for additional structural work. Your donations helped us cover any necessary modifications, respond to any challenges that came up during install, and make sure this new system is well-maintained for years to come.

These gifts have saved thousands of dollars, but its impact is far greater than financial.

Because of this generosity, the women and children in our care will have a safe, comfortable environment during the hottest days of the year. In a program focused on healing, stability, and rebuilding, something as simple as cool air and reliable heat makes all the difference.

Thank you to Brandon, Daikin, and Action Air for seeing a need and stepping up in such a powerful way. You’re not just meeting a facility need, you’re helping create a space where families can breathe easier, rest better, and focus on what comes next.

From Shelter to Stability: CRITI’s Measurable Impact Through Project Impact

Chattanooga Room in the Inn graduated from Project Impact on June 3rd alongside 8 incredible nonprofits committed to measuring what truly matters. CRITI Director of Operations, Sara Collier, and Executive Director, Taylor Hixson presented our findings.

Through this process, we’ve gained deep insight into our Shelter to Stability transitional housing program for women and children. With interviews and surveys from current and former participants, including program graduates and those who did not complete the program, we uncovered transformational outcomes:

Clients are budgeting, saving, and parenting with greater confidence long after graduation.
Stronger family relationships and deeper engagement with children’s schools are lasting impacts.
Even those who didn’t complete the program reported applying lessons in finance, parenting, and self-belief.
The experience of a supportive environment, however briefly, can plant powerful seeds of change.

But we also faced truths: systemic barriers like lack of affordable childcare, limited transportation, and inflexible low-wage jobs continue to challenge our clients. In response, we’re expanding career training options and creating a client advisory board to ensure feedback informs every step of our work.

Across all Project Impact organizations, three themes stood out:

Listening to the people we serve is non-negotiable
Belonging is essential to transformation
Refining our programs based on real-time feedback is key to lasting change

Project Impact helped us see our impact more clearly and empowered us to make it even stronger. Thank you to all who made our participation possible

Welcome Heather Nicoson, Thrift Store Manager

We’re thrilled to welcome Heather Nicoson to the CRITI team as our new Thrift Store Manager. Heather brings a strong background in nonprofit service, hands-on experience with volunteers, and retail management, along with a clear passion for community impact.

Her past work includes time at Humane Educational Society, where she worked closely with both the public and volunteers, delegating tasks effectively while understanding the unique needs of each volunteer. She also brings over seven years of management experience from Michael's, where she trained staff, oversaw day-to-day operations, and created a welcoming and efficient customer experience.

Heather is deeply motivated, highly organized, and has already hit the ground running. We’re excited to see the enthusiasm and leadership she brings to our thrift store, a key part of CRITI’s mission to provide long-term support and stability for women and children

Join us in giving her a warm welcome! And follow our progress below!

Thrift Store Facebook

Thrift Store Webpage

Community Helping Community:

A Huge Win for Our Thrift Store

We’re so grateful to share a behind-the-scenes story that shows just how powerful local generosity can be.

Our friends at Metropolitan Ministries donated a collection of store fixtures to help set up our new thrift store, saving us more than $1,200 in startup costs. These racks and other displays will help us organize merchandise and create a welcoming space for shoppers, all while supporting our mission.

Then, Good Guys Moving & Delivery stepped in and donated their moving services to transport the fixtures from storage to our store location.

Together, these acts of kindness have moved us one step closer to opening our doors and building a store that sustains the life-changing work of CRITI.

We couldn’t be more thankful for these partners who believe in our mission and continue to show that community is everything.

Full Circle Moments

We received a touching donation this month from a former resident; a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do.

“C.R.I.T.I was there for me 10 years ago when I had my first born. Always indebted. Sending some special love to Mrs. Sharon.”

To the brave woman who sent this gift: your strength, growth, and generosity mean the world to us. And Mrs. Sharon, as always, your compassion continues to leave a lasting impact. This is what community looks like.

A Place to Begin Again: How CRITI Creates Space for Healing and Hope

On June 10th, a mother and her five beautiful children walked through our doors in search of safety, stability, and hope.

At Chattanooga Room in the Inn, we believe that healing begins the moment someone feels seen, valued, and safe. That is why we prepared a warm, welcoming space just for them, complete with cozy bedding, soft lighting, toys for the little ones, and essentials to help Mom take a deep breath and begin again.

Creating a trauma-informed environment means more than just offering shelter. It means providing dignity, compassion, and a sense of home, even in the midst of crisis. It means understanding that every detail, every soft blanket or kind word, helps restore a sense of control and peace.

Every donation, every volunteer hour, every thrift store purchase helps us continue to create spaces like this where families can start to rebuild with love and support.

Thank you for helping us make Chattanooga Room in the Inn a place to heal.

A Path with Purpose: How Your Support Empowers Every Step of Her Journey

At Chattanooga Room in the Inn, our mission is built on love, hospitality, respect, integrity, and empowerment. This timeline is more than a schedule, it’s a reflection of those values brought to life through every woman’s journey.

When we share this timeline, we’re not just outlining a program. We’re inviting you, our donors, volunteers, and supporters, into the heart of what makes healing possible.

Here’s why it matters that we share it with you:

It shows how your donations are turned into real, measurable change.
It proves that transformation is not just hoped for, it’s carefully nurtured.
It reminds us all that every life restored begins with a clear, compassionate plan.
From day one, where a resident is welcomed with warmth and dignity…
To Months of Growth, where life skills, casework, and healing happen week by week…
To Housing and Beyond, where independence becomes reality and futures are reimagined…

This timeline tells a story of intentional transformation. So when you share this info, you’re not just spreading information. You’re spreading hope. You’re saying, “I believe in second chances.” And you’re standing beside every woman and child who’s walking this path with courage and with community.

Every milestone is powered by your kindness and your belief that every woman deserves safety, healing, and the chance to start again. Thank you for walking this journey with us. Because love, when shared, changes everything.

View Full Timeline PDF

To Future Residents: You Are Not Alone. There is a Path Forward. And It All Starts Here

The letter below is from a program graduate who's moving into her new home today. It moved us to tears. It’s not just a reflection of how far she’s come, from fear and exhaustion to confidence and creativity, it’s a reminder of what’s possible for every woman who walks through our doors.

She shares honestly about the hard moments, the healing ones, and how small encouragements from staff, volunteers, and fellow residents gave her the strength to believe in herself again From restarting her Etsy shop to getting her own keys , she’s reclaiming her future one step at a time. Her words are powerful, heartfelt, and they speak directly to the next woman who might be scared to take that first step.

"Dear Reader,

I am a current resident here at Criti. I just wanted to write in and share my experience over the past six months and how honored I feel to have graduated and found a place to call my own.

Before coming here, I wasn’t in the best place mentally. My health was unstable, and I couldn’t figure out how to get anything accomplished. I didn’t know where to turn for help or how to move forward. To be honest, I was scared to come here.

In the first couple of weeks..."

Click the button below to finish reading this moving letter.

Read the Resident Letter

Now Accepting Intern Applications

Join us at Chattanooga Room in the Inn as an Intern and become part of a mission-driven team working to provide shelter, support, and hope.

Our internship program offers hands-on experience in social services, nonprofit operations, and trauma-informed care, all while serving women and children in transition. Whether you're pursuing a degree in social work, psychology, nonprofit management, or simply looking to give back, we welcome your passion and commitment.

Interns Will:

Engage directly with residents and staff
Support program development and service delivery
Gain real-world experience in case management, outreach, and advocacy
Learn the dynamics of trauma-informed and housing-first models

Who Should Apply:

College students or recent grads in related fields
Individuals seeking meaningful, real-world service experience
Future social workers, counselors, educators, or nonprofit leaders

Help us restore hope one woman, one child, one family at a time.

Apply to Intern at CRITI

Digging In: Gardening Builds Confidence, Knowledge, and Community

Our garden has grown tremendously, and we've been learning so much from Mr. Carlton in our gardening class! We've labeled each of our plants and even learned how to identify and remove suckers from our tomato plants to help them conserve energy and grow stronger.

We added mint and bush beans to our garden buckets, further expanding our garden. One of the highlights was a fun math activity where we guessed how tall our sunflower had grown. After Mr. Carlton measured each of us, we measured the sunflower; it has reached an impressive 6 feet 7 inches!

After all our hard work in the sun, we cooled off with some well-deserved and delicious snow cones. It was a perfect way to end a productive day in the garden!

Speaking of gardens, one of our resident children surprised her mom with a beautiful hand-picked bouquet. It was a sweet and simple moment filled with love, reminding us how healing can bloom in the smallest ways

View and Download Flyer

Celebrating Every Win. Every Step of the Way

One of our residents came downstairs last week with a big smile and even bigger news...she got the job! Three staff members dropped everything to celebrate with her, because every win here is worth celebrating.

Behind moments like this are hours of effort, courage, and persistence. The women in our program work hard, applying, interviewing, building skills, and showing up for themselves and their families every single day.

Homelessness isn't about a lack of motivation. It's about a lack of support. At CRITI, we walk alongside each woman as she rebuilds, one powerful milestone at a time.

A Cut Above

Huge shoutout to Metro Lawn Care! They’ve been quietly donating their time and services to us for a long time, never asking for any recognition.

We finally grabbed a few photos to show our appreciation and let everyone know how much they give back to the community. Every time they come out, our yard looks amazing.

Thank you, Metro Lawn Care, for your continued generosity!

First Christian Church

Lauren Strickland

Debbi and Robin

Receive Store Updates and/or Volunteer

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!