Our food services department offers three nutritious meals to anyone in need every day of the year.  This program is the foundation of all of the services at the Community Kitchen.  By providing physical nourishment, we can often engage people in self sufficiency programs and begin the process of healing the spirit.  We serve more than 120,000 meals each year. 

Meals are served on-site at no cost to the consumer:
•Breakfast 7:00am to 8:00am seven days a week
•Lunch 11:00am to 11:45am seven days a week
•Dinner 4:00pm to 4:45pm weekdays
(sack suppers are handed out after lunch on weekends)

Volunteers are needed to assist in preparing and serving the meals, as well as to sort cans and organize the pantries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Consider the Lilies Thrift Store and Give-away Program offers free clothing and household goods to people in need.  The program originally began as a clothing distribution program, but grew to incorporate a thrift store in 2000 when we realized that by selling items, we could provide jobs for homeless and formerly homeless individuals.  Whether you are in need and receiving give-away or a paying customer, you still shop from the same racks.  Each year, Consider the Lilies gives away nearly twice as much as it sells.

CLICK HERE FOR CONSIDER THE LILIES VIDEO!

Volunteers are needed to sort, size and hang clothing throughout the week, as well as to assist with general tasks. 

Donations of clothing, shoes, furniture and household goods are
always needed.

 

The solution to homelessness seems simple – provide housing.  Unfortunately, not everyone is ready to be housed.  Instead, many need shelter while they deal with the issues that caused the situation of homelessness in the first place.  Others need a safe space to stay while they transition to independence.  Almost all need supportive services as they learn to make it on their own.  In order to ensure the greatest success in permanent housing, the Community Kitchen offers the following resources:

The Family Housing and Learning Center (FHLC):  A ten unit onsite apartment complex available to families ready to leave the shelter system but not yet ready for independence.  Adults in families must be employed full time for 4 weeks previous to program entry.  Once in the program, families work with case managers to complete goals they establish at entry; the maximum stay is 2 years.  The ultimate goal is home-ownership.  Residents learn to manage money by maintaining a savings account and paying a minimal rent (up to $300/month including utilities); upon graduation, 75% of any rent paid is refunded to the family to assist with permanent housing expenses.  Approximately 20 families complete the program each year.

Volunteers are needed for grounds maintenance, to tutor children, to teach life-skills classes, and to assist with apartment repairs and furnishings.

Saint Matthew’s Shelter for Men:  Saint Matthew’s Men’s Shelter offers nightly beds to as many as ten men at a time.  Residents of the shelter are involved in programs (such as the Homeless Health Care Center’s VIP drug and alcohol program or the Kitchen’s HELP II employment program) and are referred by case managers.  The shelter is open nightly from 5:30pm until 6:30am the following morning.  Adult men are needed to volunteer as overnight hosts (staff support is provided).  The shelter is located in the basement of a downtown church.

Saint Catherine’s Shelter for Women and Children:  Saint Catherine’s is the sister shelter to Saint Matthew’s and offers nightly beds to women and their juvenile children while they participate in self-sufficiency programs.  Adult women are needed to volunteer as overnight hosts (staff support is provided).  This shelter is also located in a downtown church proximate to Saint Matthew’s.

Worker’s Shelter:  Due to staffing and volunteer limitations, area night shelters (including the two we operate) are unable to accommodate individuals that work unusual hours.  Most shelters close their doors by 6pm, making it impossible for individuals employed in second and third shift jobs to find a place to stay for the night.  Recognizing this problem, the Community Kitchen offers rooms for those employed in odd shift jobs.  Individuals may stay in these rooms (with case manager approval) for 4 to 6 weeks while they earn enough money to secure a permanent place to stay.

 

Most of the people we serve have underlying issues that need to be addressed. Case Managers work to identify these issues and assist clients in establishing a game plan for success; this kind of support is one of the critical factors in overcoming the condition of homelessness.

Outreach:  Brother Ron Fender, bsg (Brotherhood of Saint Gregory), an Episcopal Monk, offers outreach to camps, shelters and those on the streets.  Brother Ron is often the first person to meet many of our clients.  He offers a point of contact, working to meet immediate needs and to direct clients to help.  Brother Ron focuses his work around a footcare ministry.

Program:  We operate three onsite case management intensive programs; all three are funded through grants from HUD.

• SAFAH (Supplemental Assistance for Facilities to Aid the Homeless) is a program to assist domestic violence victims and their children with the transition from shelter to permanent housing.  Life-skills classes, supportive services and interactive case management are all a part of the process.  Every effort is taken to ensure success in permanent housing.  At least 52 families are assisted every year.
  
  

• FHLC (Family Housing and Learning Center) is a ten unit transitional housing complex for families leaving the shelter system.  See the Shelter/Housing page for more information.
  
  

• HELP II (Homeless Employment and Life-skills Program) is an employment and job training program.  See the employment page for more information.
  
  

General:  We also offer more general case management, for those unsure of where to begin.  General case managers make referrals to programs once the client’s needs have been identified.

In addition to operating our own programs, we partner closely with the Homeless Health Care Center (HHCC), a comprehensive onsite medical clinic offering case management, substance abuse treatment and mental health services to the homeless of our area. The HHCC is operated by the Hamilton County Health Department and was the nation's first freestanding Joint Commission on Health certified clinic for the homeless.

HHCC programs include VIP, Victory in Progress, an outpatient substance abuse treatment program. AA and NA meetings are held in the VIP room from 9:00-10:00am Monday through Friday.

 

Without some form of income, individuals and families are unlikely to escape homelessness and succeed on their own.  Unfortunately however, homeless individuals are often faced with numerous barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment.

In order to overcome these barriers, we have established HELP II (the Homeless Employment and Life-skills Program).  HELP II employs three case managers to provide employment readiness and training, as well as support to help clients maintain and improve their employment. 

HELP II works closely with the Recycling, Clothing, and Food Services programs, offering onsite employment and job training to many of the homeless and formerly homeless men and women that we serve.

At least 200 adults are served by the HELP II program each year.  Since 1997, over 2000 men and women have found housing and employment with support from this program.

Volunteers are needed for tutoring, job coaching, and life-skills classes.

 

 

Statistically, the homeless population is subject to more frequent incidents of illness and disease, as well as longer recovery times, than the non-homeless population.  Even more, health conditions can often lead to homelessness – loss of jobs, lack of insurance, inability to recover in a safe environment; the list goes on and on.  Accessible comprehensive health care is a critical need for those working to escape homelessness.

Primary Care:
Since 1988, thanks to a collaborative grant effort between the Community Kitchen, the Hamilton County Health Department, and many others, the 700 Block of East 11th Street has been home to the Homeless Health Care Center (HHCC).

The Clinic, as we call it, offers on-site primary health care to anyone that is homeless.  In addition, they operate VIP (Victory in Progress), an intensive outpatient alcohol and drug abuse program.  Even more, they offer general and mental health case management.  The clinic is operated by the Hamilton County Health Department and, being among the first of its kind in the United States, is a national model of success.  For more information about the Homeless Health Care Center, see their website: Homeless Health Care Center.

Respite Care:  
Some years ago, we discovered a man sleeping in our dumpster.  He was recovering from pneumonia.  The hospital had discharged him with instructions of bed rest.  Needless to say, his condition worsened and he was readmitted.  As this process repeated itself, and the man never seemed to get better, we realized an urgent need for medical respite.  The fact is, without the proper space for recuperation, even minor injuries can lead to homelessness, or extend an otherwise reversible situation. 

Since this first encounter, we have learned that home care is actually a common discharge plan for those recovering from surgery, illness and injury.  In fact, it is often considered one of the best choices for recovery.  For those with a place to go, home may in fact be the best place to recover.  However, for the homeless population, home care often means returning to a camp or a bench on the street; unfortunately, when exposed to the ravages of the street, ill clients are often lost, only to cycle in and out of homelessness and in and out of the hospital. 

To best meet the needs of the medically frail population, we offer a ten room facility, complete with hospital beds, allowing homeless clients to recover ‘at home’ for 4-6 weeks after being discharged from the hospital.  Like our other services, this service is offered at no charge to those in need.

Foot Care:
When Brother Ron Fender, bsg, first came to the Community Kitchen in 2002, he brought a revolutionary idea with him.  He wanted to further his own ministry by tending to the feet of the homeless.  Naturally, the ministry aspect was clear, but soon after we realized just how significant this work could be medically. 

Homeless folks spend an incredible amount of time walking; and they usually carry their belongings with them.  Their feet suffer from all this walking, and the condition is complicated as they wear out their shoes.  Brother Ron started this program by simply washing feet and clipping toenails; after tending to the feet, Ron would provide clean socks and a decent pair of shoes (when available).  This simple act of compassion established a bond between the clients and Brother Ron that many others would never experience.  One client fell into tears after Ron tended his feet.  After regaining composure, he finally told Ron why he was crying; he said “this is the first time I can remember that someone has touched me in a non-threatening way.” 

Naturally, as soon as we realized how special Ron’s service was, we decided that footcare was here to stay.

As the footcare ministry continued, Ron began to notice that many of the illnesses that homeless folks suffer are actually born in their feet.  Whether it be gout or diabetes, or something else, by screening the feet, these diseases can be identified before they become disabling – they can be treated early.

Today, the footcare program has grown to include partnerships with podiatrists and nurses who volunteer their time to tend to the feet of our homeless clients; this program is so important to our services that we have dedicated an entire room just to meet these needs.

Collaborations:
In addition to our own services, and those of the Homeless Health Care Center, numerous area agencies have partnered in wellness services, offering general wellness, HIV testing, mammograms, blood tests and much more to our clients.  We appreciate all community partnerships and are always interested in learning new ways to help serve the medical needs of our area’s homeless population.

 

 

 

Many homeless men, women and children carry everything they own with them wherever they go.  They often are on foot, and usually have nowhere to sit and rest for a moment, to escape from severe weather, or to meet with a case manager and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

In the Community Kitchen’s Day Center, clients can access basic, essential services like bathrooms and showers, telephones, mail, washers and driers, and more.  They can also use the facility to simply sit down and get a moment’s rest.  In its most basic form, the day center serves to provide a safe, educational space for homeless men, women, and children to escape inclement weather, rest for a few minutes or use the restroom during the day.  But the day center is actually much more complex. 

Case managers are onsite throughout the facility, offering initial outreach and assessment as well as engagement in educational and self-sufficiency programming.  In addition, outside agencies such as Veterans Affairs, Social Security, the Department of Human Services, Chattanooga Cares, and many more offer their services under our roof.  By offering our own services, as well as those of partner agencies, all under one roof in an accessible area, we are able to deliver services efficiently as we break down barriers to success.

Day Center services include: Restrooms and Showers, Telephones (to make and receive calls), Mail (to receive correspondence and get identification), Computer Access, Sitting Area, Lockers, Washers/Driers, Hygiene Items, Foot care, Educational Resources and Programming (including artistic and musical programs), Case Management (including outside agency collaboration), meditation space, and much more.

 

 

Recycling Lives:

In the early 1990's, garbage from the Community Kitchen’s feeding program began reaching an all time high.  We were sending dozens of bags of garbage to the landfill each day.  Often, the bags were filled with cardboard, tin, and other recyclable materials.  In an effort to divert waste from the landfill and further our mission of serving the homeless, the “recycle lives” program was born.

At first, we hired part-time folks from our job placement program to sort our own materials; once we got a truckload, we would sell the items, using the funds to help pay for the employees.  Soon after, our donors and volunteers started asking if they could bring in their recycling from home... they especially like the fact that we did not require the items to be sorted. 

Before long, we were employing several homeless individuals full time and the recycling program became one of our essential services – we now offer entry level positions for homeless clients in our Help II program.  In fact, even the supervisors in the program are formerly homeless.

We accept all items that can be recycled, to include plastic, tin, aluminum, paper and glass.  We also accept worn out shoes and clothing.  Shoes must be in pairs.  We do not require items to be pre-sorted.

To donate your recyclables, just load them in your car and bring them to the loading area in front of our door at 727 East 11th Street (look for the green awning).  Someone will unload the items and give you a receipt.  It’s that easy.

By bringing your recyclables to us, you help recycle lives while being a good steward of our environment.