The Journey Home

As a response to God's call to love one another, we will participate in our local community by:

1) Operating a safe and hospitable outreach facility where encouragement is offered, basic needs are met, and every person comes to understand their personal value and potential

2) Equipping clients with knowledge, tools, and other resources useful on their road to independent living

3) Connecting clients with sustainable housing solutions that foster stability and break the cycles of homelessness and poverty

4) Educating our community as to the prevalence and causes of homelessness in our area and how they can make a difference for their neighbors and themselves

5) Fostering increased cooperation and collaboration in the community and creating opportunities for Christian service in our county

Homelessness is a complex problem, generally the result of interconnected issues related to poverty and a lack of affordable housing. Its effects on families and individuals are far-reaching, impacting every facet of life, and for most of the community, very difficult to understand. However, the best and most lasting solutions involve the entire community. They include a broad array of coordinated programs and services that meet each person at their point of need, provide the time, resources and networks necessary to build relationships and affect change, and promote awareness of and intervention in community systems at their point of failure. We will first endeavor to stabilize crises by meeting basic needs, and second, encourage transformation through sustainable, long-term investment of both the individual and the community at-large.

Prior to founding The Journey Home, Scott Foster (Founder, Executive Director) studied social problems and solutions. He has worked closely with local and regional government, government services, and local organizations in order to truly understand the unique needs of this community and establish programs and services that will meet those needs in cooperation with the City, the County, and partner agencies.

The Board of Directors at The Journey Home is a group of concerned community members who are very involved in the organization, helping to ensure that it stays within budget, and produces the expected results. A number of board members volunteer their time with the agency in other roles as well, and thus maintain an awareness of how programs and services are provided.

Volunteers are the life blood of The Journey Home. Our small team of 6 staff members work closely with volunteers every day to ensure that meals are served, the kitchen is kept to appropriate standards, clients are served with excellence, facilities are maintained in for safety and cleanliness, and much more.

Financially speaking, the Journey Home maintains a high standard of responsibility and stewardship with the funds we receive. As our financial records prove, a high percentage of donated funds goes right into programs, and our overhead costs remain low.

The Journey Home's Community Cafe and Outreach Center serves approximately 100 homeless and low-income individuals each day, providing meals, shower and laundry facilities and supplies, case management, toiletries and other basic necessities, and more. We are currently completing a build-out in our main facility to add some classroom and office space with the goal of co-locating more resources and services that will help boost physical and mental health. Additional services provided will include but not be limited to: annual flu shot clinics, blood sugar and blood pressure screening, nutrition and wellness education, anger management and conflict resolution education, and more.

Since 2009, The Journey Home has acquired 26 properties throughout Rutherford County that it makes available through the Supportive Housing Program. This program serves families and some individuals, providing housing and support at a cost that fits in their budget (they are charged 30% of their income, which is the government standard for affordable housing). In addition to affordable rent, the Supportive Housing Program provides support in the form of coaching and guidance, and other resources as needs arise. Many families in The Journey Home's Supportive Housing Program are single-parent families. As much success has been experienced, this program will continue to be a main program in The Journey Home's future.

In the future, The Journey Home will begin to address affordable housing issues for low-income seniors.