NUMBER OF BED NIGHTS AT CRITI IN 2018
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BECAME EMPLOYED IN 2019
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS AT CRITI IN 2019
GRADUATES REMAINING IN PERMANENT HOUSING IN 2019
STORIES OF HOPE
Women with children are the fastest growing homeless group in our area. Chattanooga Room in the Inn provides housing and services at no charge, giving them the time they need to get back on their feet. Read the success stories of our amazing women.
CRITI showed me that I am not just a homeless person, but a human being, and how amazing I am! I know that I can get different results by making different choices. I'm happier than I have ever been.KATHRYN
CRITI Alum
After a few weeks at CRITI, my mom found a job. Being homeless was really motivating for me. It made me want to push harder, not only for me but for my mom. You know what CRITI does? It gives women hope!CHRISTINA
CRITI Alum
Without CRITI, I don't know where I would have ended up. CRITI gave me the chance to become a productive member of society. Most importantly, the staff believed in me so that I could believe in myself.TERESA
CRITI Alum
CRITI helped me establish a nest egg so that an emergency expense won't lead to homelessness again. For the people who support CRITI: You are giving us the will to keep going!CARLA
CRITI Alum
The scariest part about being homeless was wondering how it will affect my son. The other day he told me 'I don't give up because you never give up.' I never said that to him. He learned that by watching me.MONIQUE
CRITI Alum
My biggest blessing here was learning to love myself. I found home in me and I didn’t know that before. Sometimes you’ve got to leave everything you know to find out who you areCHRISTINE
CRITI Alum
NEWS & UPDATES AT CRITI
According to the Women's Fund of Greater Chattanooga, they have spent time recently learning about the quality of child care in our community since COVID-19. A list of facts was put together by this group to emphasize how child care has been threatened in our community and around the country and why it’s a critical issue for women.
•Child care workers in Tennessee make an average salary of $21,500.
•94% of the child care workforce is women.
•Many child care programs have closed since the COVID-19 and not all will be able to reopen.
•High-quality programs for birth-to-five years of age for disadvantaged children can save cost in the future and those gains can be realized through better outcomes in education, health, social behaviors and employment.
•The average annual price of infant child care can exceed 11.5% of the median Tennessee household income.
Child care for the working women is critical. Women who are homeless have to work to support their families. With uncertainty and high cost, child care availability can become an additional barrier that these women will have to address as they navigate the future.
We appreciate all the hard work that the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga is doing to identify ways to assist child care organizations throughout our community and help them rebound in a strong and supportive way for all families within the Chattanooga area.
Thank you Thursday goes to Young Life Chattanooga for donating yummy fruit and vegetables for our women and children!
We were so glad to get those fresh fruits and vegetables to enjoy! Thank you Young Life for your generosity!!
Chattanooga Room in the Inn has assisted over 4,000 women and children who have experienced homelessness regain their independence with dignity and security. CRITI provides case management and life skills instructions to prevent recurrence of homelessness.
Many children who experience homelessness can be scared and unsure of their future. They can also experience difficulties working through and completing homework assignments, struggle with fear and have difficulties with health and wellness. At CRITI, our Child Advocate helps our moms identify resources within our community to help keep her family healthy in all areas. The Child Advocate assist moms in addressing challenges she may have with the children and help them feel safe and stable during the transition as they move out of homelessness.
