The mission of Room In The Inn, is to provide programs that emphasize human development and recovery, providing education, food and long term support for those who call the streets of Nashville home. This mission began in the winter of 1985, when Father Charles Strobel, opened the doors of his parish to individuals seeking sanctuary in the church parking lot. His simple act of kindness marked the beginning of Room In The Inn. There are currently 200 congregations across Nashville who continue to support this act of kindness. Over 7,000 volunteers shelter close to 1,500 men and women from November 1 through March 31 of each season.
The core values of Room In The Inn state that “through the power of spirituality and the practice of love, we provide hospitality with a respect that offers hope in a community of non-violence.” This program provides safe shelter, warm meals, and fellowship for homeless men and women during the coldest months of the year. Each congregation that participates in the Winter Shelter program coordinates its own volunteers, meals, and additional services. You can register your congregation online.
Congregations host groups once a week, once a month, or during the coldest months of the year. Room In the Inn staff train and educate volunteers in the process and procedure of setting up accomodations for 8-15 guests. Volunteers at each congregation prepare and serve meals, pack lunches and supervise fellowship activities. Feedback from the congregations hosting shelters is overwhelmingly positive. Many are surprised at how easy running a shelter can be. Each shelter is modeled after a home environment where there is a clean, warm room, fresh linens, a place to wash and bathe, nourishing food and easy conversation. Each congregation has a coordinator, who assumes responsibility for the program and oversees the volunteers.
For more questions about Winter Shelter at Room In The Inn, call the Winter Shelter direct line at 615-251-7019.
