Room in the Inn - Memphis

What it reported doing in 2024

Three programs shelter and feed individuals, families, and the medically fragile experiencing homelessness while assisting with their journey toward housing in Memphis, Tennessee. Volunteers gave over 21,500 hours to shelter, feed, transport, and provide hospitality to guests experiencing homelessness. Support from private donations, businesses and corporations, private and corporate foundations, and government grants made it possible to operate three programs: 1) emergency shelter during the winter for street-level individuals, 2) year-round emergency shelter for families, and 3) respite care for medically fragile individuals. During the fiscal year, 62 households exited homelessness and 35 individuals gained new employment. Approximately 27,980 meals were served through the combined programs.Program Summaries: Congregational Shelter: A network of 38 diverse congregations opened their doors to provide food and shelter to people who are experiencing street-level homelessness from November through March each year and May through September. 5,959 warm, safe beds were provided over 240 nights. Family Inn: Families experiencing homelessness live in the comfort of a private room with an en suite bathroom as they work toward permanent housing. During their stay families receive meals and supportive services. Educational and counseling programs for adults and children are available. 115 families including 289 children were welcomed during the year.Recuperative Care: Unsheltered individuals who are medically fragile and in need of a safe place to recover from illness stay in private rooms with three meals a day. The staff coordinates care with medical providers and assists with the guests' housing goals. Opportunities for occupational coaching and counseling as well as physical strengthening are part of the recovery process. 63 individuals came to the Recuperative Care Center for respite.Impact Data: Sheltered 996 Individuals in 3 programs289 Children in 115 families 35 gained new employment62 households moved into housing63 Medically fragile guests rested, recovered, and secured needed resources 240 Nights of life-saving winter and summer shelter in host congregationsTotal volunteer hours over 21,500Approximately 27,980 meals servedHistory: Room in the Inn Memphis (RITI) began as an outreach project in the fall of 2009 at Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The congregation welcomed strangers into the warm, safe sanctuary of a building that was underused during the winter. Following three years of winter shelter by the first host congregation, an advisory committee was formed to discern the future direction of what was becoming a thriving program for those experiencing homelessness. The advisory committee recommended forming a permanent board of directors and applying for 501c3 status which was granted in 2013. RITI fulfills its mission through three programs. The first program is Congregational Shelter. During the coldest months of the year, November through March, a network of faith communities shelters small groups of individuals at their places of worship. The second and third programs, which are the Family Inn and Recuperative Care Center, began early in 2021. Both of these newer programs are housed in a 24/7 facility in Memphis Medical District. Family Inn shelters families experiencing homelessness referred by Memphis Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) and approved for MIFAs Rapid Rehousing Program. These families work with our Family Inn Director and Family Advocate as they go through the process of locating and moving into housing. The Recuperative Care Center shelters medically fragile individuals and offers case management to assist in a pathway to housing. More information about our programs can be found online at https://ritimemphis.org/RITI is actively addressing the need for emergency and temporary shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. During RITIs pandemic response, it became apparent there

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 85.5%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $14.99 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 71
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Limited
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -22.7%; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.13; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.73; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.6%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 32.5% per year; rating input score 100; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 26.4% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 34.8% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings