CONGREGATIONAL SHELTER
Learn more about our Congregational Shelter model, where dozens of faith communities across the Greater Memphis Area come together to provide life-saving shelter in the extreme weather months (Nov-Mar, May-Sep).
URGENT NEED FOR SHELTER HOSTS
The need for small groups of volunteers to host Congregational Shelter has never been greater.
Hosts for our Summer Shelter season are in short supply, and there are many nights of the month where there is no host, no shelter, at all.
Summer Shelter serves families with children and single women.
When these guests arrive at the door at 4:30pm, they have exhausted all other options for shelter for the day.
When we have no host or all our spaces are filled, there are no remaining free, safe options for shelter in Memphis for women and children.
We need your help.
One night of your time gives shelter to up to 15 women and children and will change your life forever.
RITI staff are ready to train your small group of volunteers. We have everything you need to get started.
The only question is, will you join us?
Congregational Shelter Impact July 2023 – June 2024
BEDS
GUESTS
CHILDREN
VOLUNTEER HRS
HOST CONGREGATIONS
Become a Host
Would you like to learn how your faith community can start your own Room in the Inn program? We would be honored to help you. Our Room in the Inn-Memphis Handbook offers a step-by-step plan for opening your own Room in the Inn-Memphis site.
RITI Memphis is always ready to welcome more host congregations and transform EMPTY to ENOUGH.
Helpful presentation
If it would help, someone from our staff or board can speak to your congregation or its governing body and answer any questions they might have. To learn more, contact our office at
901-467-0122 or shelter@ritimemphis.org. We are happy to talk to you, in person or on the phone, about how you can encourage your congregation to get involved in this program.
Choosing a night
It is important to choose a night that works best for your congregation and facility. Remember that there are more than 2,000 people experiencing homelessness each night in Memphis. So any night you choose will provide much needed shelter. There are nights when our capacity is very low, and we must turn away dozens of guests. Filling the gaps in our calendar is especially helpful for our guests so we can provide a more consistent amount of shelter each night.
Registering your congregation
Once your congregation is committed to opening a Room in the Inn-Memphis site, contact our office to receive and complete the Congregational Registration Form. As soon as you are ready to open, we will add spaces for your location to our schedule.
Congregational Shelter in the News
Faith West Tennessee, September 2024
“It’s not rocket science; it’s hospitality,” Anderson said. “We believe Jesus calls us to treat our fellow humans with dignity and respect. That’s what we do.”
CityCurrent Radio Show, March 2024
Host Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Lisa Anderson, founder of RITI, a transformative nonprofit providing sanctuary and support to the unhoused across Memphis. Lisa shares RITI’s journey from a small church project to a city-wide mission with over 50 congregations involved.
ABC24, December 2023
Room In The Inn hosted a vigil on Thursday night at Memphis’ First Presbyterian Church in remembrance of the members of the city’s homeless community who died in the last year.
