Our RITI mission statement is, “Sheltering those experiencing homelessness in a safe environment of hospitality.” As we begin a new year together, we want to dive in to what these words mean to us.
SHELTER – Though RITI has grown since our grassroots beginnings in 2009, our core service remains the same – shelter. We do not guarantee our guests permanent housing or jobs. We guarantee shelter, safety, and hospitality to meet their most emergent need. From that first step, often trust is formed, relationships grow, and we can accompany a guest on their path to stronger stability.
THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS – In 2025, RITI guests ranged in age from 82 years old to newborn babies. Our guests are just as diverse as our community. Some hold formal education and degrees; some live with untreated mental illness; some have jobs; some are children; some are grandparents. Each person has a story and dreams for the future, just like you. Charles Strobel notes, “They are our neighbors to love, not our problems to solve.” Safe shelter cannot fix every issue our guests face. Through love and hospitality we offer company for the journey.
SAFE ENVIRONMENT – Working with people in crisis, we take seriously the need to provide a safe place. Guests are often distrustful that any place is truly safe and welcoming for them, and many of their experiences in life have taught them to always be on guard. RITI is committed to being a welcoming place for all, offering each guest the same access and holding each person (guest, volunteer, and staff alike) to the same rules for our community.
HOSPITALITY – We believe “hospitality is a two way street.” It goes beyond a mere welcome and locks eyes and hearts across a table and shared meal. Hospitality is offering help to a stranger to meet their needs in that moment and also opening our heart to that stranger in a way that might change us, too. Hospitality doesn’t solve the problems of homelessness. It builds community, and that makes all the difference.
Thank you, Inn Crowd, for being and building community with us. Happy New Year!