Jefferson City Room at the Inn

At the end of 2019, during a debrief session from Project Homeless Connect, a group was formed called the Homeless Task Force. Through this group, it quickly became apparent that emergency housing was an emerging need, and a solution was necessary. The emergency housing team began meeting on a monthly basis to develop a Room at the Inn concept for Jefferson City. Jefferson City Room at the Inn (JCRATI) was developed and officially started in February 2022, hosting around 4-6 individuals each night for one month. Although we weren’t fully ready to open our doors, the community’s emergency need led us to give it a try.

Catholic Charities graciously allowed us to use their space for the 2022-2023 season, with a capacity of 12 guests per night. As demand grew, we partnered with First Baptist Church to expand our emergency shelter services to accommodate 20 guests. During this time, we learned the ins and outs of the program, began offering dinner and breakfast, and consistently reached full capacity each night.

JCRATI is a volunteer-run program, with one part-time paid staff member. The community has provided overwhelming support through space, monetary donations, volunteer hours, necessary supplies, prayers, and other essential needs. JCRATI would not be possible without this generous support. While we are incredibly grateful for the space provided by First Baptist, we are actively seeking a permanent location and hope to secure one soon.