Celebrating 37 Years of Chattanooga Room in the Inn

On August 31st, Chattanooga Room in the Inn celebrated 37 years of serving women and children experiencing homelessness in our community.

Our story began in 1988 when Christine Morrison led a community-wide analysis that revealed a critical gap. There were very few shelter beds available for single women and mothers with children. In response, volunteers from seven local churches came together to create the first emergency shelter program. Each evening, a host church opened its doors to provide a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, and breakfast the next morning before church vans transported residents to the next location. While the need for shelter was met, women and children had to move every day for four years.

That changed in 1991 when Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd helped secure a HUD grant that allowed CRITI to open a permanent location, which remains our home today.

We are deeply grateful for the vision of our founding churches: First Christian Church Chattanooga, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Clear Creek Church, Hixson United Methodist Church, Central Presbyterian Church, First Centenary United Methodist Church, and Brainerd United Methodist Church. Their compassion laid the foundation for a mission that continues to transform lives.

Today, Chattanooga Room in the Inn remains committed to walking alongside women and children, providing shelter, stability, and a pathway to independence. As we celebrate this milestone, we honor our past, rejoice in the present, and look forward with hope to the future, all made possible by the faithful support of our community.

Understanding the Past to Build a Stronger Future

Childhood experiences matter, even the hard ones.

The ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) test is a 10-question tool that looks at trauma before age 18, including abuse, neglect, or growing up around addiction, mental illness, or incarceration. These early experiences can have a lasting impact on our mental and physical health.

At Chattanooga Room in the Inn, we use the ACE test in our case management to better understand what our residents have been through, not to label them, but to guide our support. This helps us create personalized, trauma-informed care plans that focus on healing, stability, and long-term well-being.

When we understand someone’s past, we can help shape a stronger future.

Volunteer Spotlight: Thank you, Avery!

We want to send an extra special thank you to Avery, who has volunteered every Monday for the past year in our Child Enrichment Program.

Avery showed up each week ready to play, share laughter, and bring a warm spirit of kindness to the toddlers she worked with. Her dedication and caring heart have made such a difference in our program and in the lives of the children she’s touched.

Please join us in wishing Avery the very best as she begins her next adventure, starting college this month at Tennessee Tech University! 

From Garden to Jar: A Sweet Project in Our Child Enrichment Program

In our Child Enrichment Program, we had a sweet and tasty project! Using husk cherries from our very own garden, our teenagers rolled up their sleeves and made homemade Husk Cherry Jam.

While the jam was cooking, our toddlers and elementary students worked hard on coloring and decorating our jam labels, then proudly attached them to the finished jars. It was a wonderful way to bring all ages together, learn new skills, and enjoy the fruits (literally!) of our garden!

A Big Thank You To PEO Chapter AD

We are so grateful for the opportunity to speak to PEO Chapter AD about the mission of Chattanooga Room in the Inn and how it aligns with the incredible work this group is doing in our community.

Our conversation was a reminder of the power of coming together and the incredible impact we can have when we all play a part in lifting others up. At Chattanooga Room in the Inn, we’re dedicated to supporting those facing homelessness, but we know that lasting change requires the collective effort of passionate individuals and organizations like PEO.



The engagement and thoughtful questions from the group really highlighted why partnerships like this matter, they amplify our shared vision of a stronger, more compassionate Chattanooga. Together, we can create the community we all want to see.

Thanks again to PEO Chapter AD for having us, we’re excited to continue working alongside such an inspiring group of women who are committed to making a difference!