Our Programs

Our programs begin with the grace of hospitality and are centered around an atmosphere of mutual respect. We provide a continuum of care that is both emergency and long-term, both residential and educational. Our variety of programs include:

Congregational Support offers support and assistance to congregations including Congregational Helpline, a screening service for local congregations who receive requests for benevolence assistance, training opportunities about homelessness for adults and youth, presentations during worship services or classes, tours of our downtown center, and volunteer opportunities for both individuals and groups. In addition, staff members provide logistical assistance for congregations new to the Room In The Inn winter shelter program and consultation for volunteers already operating the program.

Educational Program regularly offers classes in literacy, GED preparation, basic computer skills, spirituality and creative expression totaling over 1,300 classes. Last year over 14,000 instructional hours of classes were offered by staff and volunteers and more than 4,000 individuals participated.

Guest House Through a partnership with the Metro Police Department, the Guest House provides a safe alternative to jail, where this year over 30,000 beds were provided for intoxicated individuals to become sober. In partnership with the Metro Government, the Guest House offers food and shelter 24 hours a day to individuals undergoing alcohol and drug treatment.

Odyssey is an overarching of all the programs of Room In The Inn’s Campus to help chronically homeless individuals through a progression of basic steps that establish a stable and productive life including healing, education, life skills, recovery, job readiness, and housing. In the past, 99 participants began their journey with the Odyssey program. Many of them have reconnected with family, obtained employment, maintained sobriety, and moved into permanent housing.

Respite Care provides medically fragile homeless people a safe place to recover from illness or recent hospitalization. Shelter, meals, and medications are provided. In partnership with the Metro Health Department, medical care is provided. While recuperating, needs assessments are completed to link the individual to mainstream services. This year 224 individuals recuperated in the respite care program. Download Respite Referral Form here.

Room In The Inn, in partnership with more than 160 local congregations, provided shelter for 1,286 individuals from November 1 - March 31. Last year, with the help of approximately 5,000 volunteers, giving almost 130,000 hours of service and driving nearly 500,000 miles, Room In The Inn provided over 29,000 beds, over 22,000 showers, and served over 60,000 meals and almost 30,000 snacks/lunches to their homeless guests.

Support Services provide homeless individuals access to showers, meals, clothing, work identification, bus passes, case management, referrals to other programs, and mailboxes. In the last year, we helped 500 people obtain identification, provided 4,200 bus passes, 8,000 meals, and approximately 5,000 showers. Currently, more than 1,000 individuals receive mail at Room In The Inn’s Campus.

Veteran's Program in partnership with the U.S. Department for Veteran's Affairs, Room In The Inn’s Campus serves those who have served us all, by defending our country. Transitional housing, employment counseling, education, and case management are provided. Since the inception of the program we have housed 144 veterans. Of those, 109 found full time employment and 61 obtained their own apartment.