Olivet Fellowship Baptist Church

Room in the Inn Homeless Ministry

Training Packet for New Volunteers

Room in the Inn Website:

http://ritiattheplace.weebly.com/

Volunteer Signup Genius Link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E4DAEAF2DA3F85-riti
 Room in the Inn
Homeless Ministry Overview
Room in the Inn began in 1985 in Nashville, Tennessee by Fr. Charles F. Strobel in his local parish church.
There are currently more than 170 interfaith congregations participating in the Room in the Inn in Nashville
and hundreds more in other cities.

Room in the Inn is not. . .

- a cure for homelessness
- a mentoring program
- a bureaucratic organization with major fundraising and capital needs
- another large shelter
- a year-round commitment
- a use or disruption of church facilities during regular, normal church hours

Room in the Inn is. . .

- a small, independent haven for 10-15 people
- a safe, clean place to sleep, with a real pillow rather than shoes under guests’ heads
- an interfaith effort
- a supervised, controlled environment with established boundaries
- a flexible commitment
- a place of hospitality when church facilities are not being used
- a way for people to become directly involved with men, women, and children who are homeless
- a way to serve and put faith into practice
- a way to answer God’s call

How does Room in the Inn work?

Prospective guests are interviewed and registered for lodging that evening at a participating church.
Volunteers of the congregation pick up their guests around 7p.m. and take them to their church. A hot meal
is served and a safe place is provided.

Some congregations may show a movie or play games with their guests. Lights are out around 10p.m. A
wake-up call is usually given around 5:30a.m. Afterwards, breakfast is served, and the guests are returned to
the central location by 7a.m.

What about security?

Volunteers are with the guests throughout their stay, and only designated areas of the facility are used.
Boundaries (both physical and personal) are set. Areas are designated as off limits. Rules are made clear.

The twenty-seven years of experience at the Room in the Inn in Nashville has proven that guests are not
unruly. When guests have walked and have been on their feet all day carrying their belongings, they want to
sleep at night. Treating guests with respect and dignity encourages them to respond in the same way.

Who Are the Homeless?

The chronically homeless invariably suffer from a combination of several of the following disabling
conditions:

Mental Illness- Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illness;

Physical Disabilities- Profound injuries, illness, birth defects, or socially debilitating physical traits (such as disfigurement, dental
deficiencies, or obesity caused by a “survival” mentality);

Educational Deficiencies- Inability to read/write, the lack of basic academic skills or no high school diploma;

Severe Trauma- History of sexual or physical abuse, combat, catastrophic loss of family, or a similar traumatic event;

Addiction- Drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, and other addictions;

Severe Family Dysfunction- Abusive parents, broken homes, and/or multiple residences/caregivers;

No Family or Significant Support System- Total lack of family or support systems due to death, alienation, or institutional
childhood;

Learning Disabilities- Dyslexia, ADHD and other disorders that interfere with education and life functioning;

Developmental Disabilities- Low IQ or brain damage that hinders intellectual functioning;

Criminal History- Existence of a criminal record that seriously limits opportunity

Limited Occupational Skill Set- Inability to do anything beyond the most basic manual labor;

Transportation Deficiencies- Inability to purchase, maintain, insure, or legally drive a car or obtain transportation through public
or private means;

Life Skill Deficiencies- Inability to manage the most basic life functions such as hygiene, housing, transportation, and
interpersonal relationships

Prior Long-Term Institutionalization- Extended stays in foster care, juvenile institutions, mental hospitals, prison, or other
institution;

Generational Poverty- Two or more generations of family dependent on public assistance or charity for basic living needs that
has fostered an attitude of hopelessness;

System Navigation- Inability to effectively navigate government and social service agencies;

Cognitive Disability- Impairment to how a person reacts to emotions or behaviors, inability to problem solve, lack of
understanding of consequences of ones actions, emotional immaturity, or inability to manage life.

Small Gifts of Hospitality

There are many ways to make the guests feel welcome. Certainly a warm smile and hearty welcome are a
good start. Here are a few other ways:
  Serve your guests at the table. They have to wait in line for so many of their meals.
 Have the cots and mattresses set up before the guests arrive.
 Place a mint on each pillow.
 Provide the daily paper.
 Eat with your guests instead of sitting with other volunteers.
 Take time to listen to your guests, even if what they say doesn’t seem important. They need to be
heard.
 Play dominoes, checkers, or other board games with your guests.

Gifts You Give and Receive

When we step out in faith and offer ourselves in service to others, we receive many gifts in return. Room in
the Inn- Memphis blurs the line between giver and receiver.

Gifts You Give. . .

 Safe, warm shelter in the coldest time of the year

 A hearty, home-cooked meal eaten together
 Respite from the desperation of the streets
 Kindness and acceptance
 Time to listen
 Dignity and respect
 Encouragement
 Hope

Gifts You Receive. . .

 New friendships
 Gratitude
 Joy of sharing a meal
 Laughter
 Chance to hear stories from guests
 Education about homelessness
 A deeper understanding of your blessings
 Satisfaction from knowing you make a real difference
 Overcoming myths and stereotypes
 Working with other volunteers from your congregation
 Broader sense of community

Room in the Inn

 Team Checklists

The following pages contain a detailed checklist for each team. After
reviewing this packet, please sign up for one of the teams and
familiarize yourself with your team’s responsibilities. If you have any
additional questions, please see Wanda Bonner or Shermelle Cowan for
clarification.

Culinary Team: Example Dinner Menu

Friday, ____________, 2022

 Your First Name _________________________

Menu Selections
Please check your choices.

Appetizer

________ Cheese Dip

Entrée Choice
________ Meatloaf
________ Baked Chicken

Vegetable Choice
________ Cabbage
________ Pinto beans
________ Candied yams

Extras
________ Cornbread
________ Rolls

Dessert
________ Brownie (plain)

________ Brownie (with ice cream)

________ Ice cream (only)

Beverage
________ Lemonade
________ Tea

Culinary Team Job Assignments

1. Dining Room Crew
Responsibilities: Set tables before guests arrive. Collect menus from guests and fill appetizer
and beverage requests.
2. Lunch Bag Crew
Responsibilities: Prepare items to be placed in lunch bags: a sandwich, snack, fruit, and
small bottled water.

3. Servers
Responsibilities: Set up buffet area. Fill dinner menu orders as they come.

4. Breakfast Crew
Responsibilities: Prepare and serve breakfast the following morning. Distribute lunch bags
and clean prep area.

All volunteers on the culinary team should assist with clean up after guests have been
served. This includes cleaning used areas throughout the evening (including fellowship
hall and kitchen), washing all used dishes, sweeping, mopping if needed, and disposing
of all trash.

Hospitality Team Overview

EVENING SHIFT:
(Before guests arrive)
1. Prepare beds: sheet, blanket, pillow, pillow case, and place a peppermint on each pillow.
2. Place wash cloth and bath towel on bed.

(After guests arrive)

1. Greet each guest personally.
2. Ensure each guest has a name tag.
3. Assist in clothes closet if needed.
4. Monitor guests upstairs and downstairs until shift is over.

OVERNIGHT SHIFT:
1. Monitor guests throughout the night.
2. Ensure each guest is accounted for at all times.
3. Ensure all guests are in bed and lights are out by 10p.m.
4. Wake up guests at 5:00a.m.
5. Ensure guests are downstairs for breakfast by 6:00a.m.
 Hospitality Team Job Assignments
1. Bedding Crew:
Responsibilities: After preparing beds for guests, volunteers will report to Fellowship Hall.
Please do not remove any tables from the rooms.

2. Greeters:
Responsibilities: Greet and oversee the signing in of volunteers. Send volunteers to their
designated area. Issue name tags to volunteers and guests. Greet guests upon arrival, and
escort them to the Fellowship Hall. Assist guests when needed. Remain at the sign-in table
until 9p.m. to prevent guests from entering any unrestricted areas of the church.

3. Clothes Closet Crew:

Responsibilities: Assist guests in selecting items from the Clothes Closet after they have
toured the facility. Assist in reorganizing the area after guests have left.

4. Security Crew:
Responsibilities: Monitor guests and all used areas of the facility until lights are out,
including the smoke area.
Monitored Areas:

- Game room /T.V./Gym areas

- Sleeping area/LOL lounge

- Exit near kitchen/smoking area

Volunteer Overnight Rotation Schedule

Volunteer’s Name Monitor Sleep
10:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. 1:30 a.m. -5:00 a.m.

10:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. 1:30 a.m. -5:00 a.m.

10:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. 1:30 a.m. -5:00 a.m.

 10:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. 1:30 a.m. -5:00 a.m.

2:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Housekeeping Team Job Assignments

(Morning Shift Only)
1. Remove linen and place in laundry bag.
2. Sterilize beds and pillows.

3. Clean restrooms upstairs and downstairs, including shower stalls.

4. Sweep and mop floors.
5. Store beds and pillows.
6. Turn off lights and lock all doors upstairs.

Host Night Schedule

Guest Arrival/Fellowship…..…..…………………..……6:00p.m.
(Representatives from the hospitality committee will greet guests at the door and escort them to their room to
put down their belongings. Afterwards, our guests will be taken to the fellowship hall for dinner. A volunteer
will remain upstairs to monitor guests’ belongings.)

Prayer/Dinner…..…..…………………….…...6:30p.m.-7:30p.m.
(Guests will receive a menu checklist to complete. Menu items will include an appetizer, salad, main course,
dessert, and beverage. Volunteers serve guests at their tables. All volunteers are encouraged to engage in
warm, polite conversation with our honored guests during dinner and throughout their stay. Warm bread and
butter will be served to guests upon arrival. Warm beverages such as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate will be
made available.)

Guided Tour of Facility…….………..…………….7:30- 7:45p.m.

(Coordinators will take guests on a tour of the unrestricted areas of the facility. They will be shown their
sleeping quarters, the shower facility, entertainment area, and restroom locations. During the tour, facility
guidelines and the schedule of events will also be shared with guests.

Visit Clothes Closet/Shower…..…..………...7:45p.m.-8:45p.m.

Recreation and Relaxation…..…..……….…8:45p.m.-10:00p.m.
(Guests will have the opportunity to watch T.V., play a game, read, or simply rest. )

Lights Out…..…..…………………………..…10:00p.m.-5:00a.m.
(Coordinators and representatives from security will take shifts monitoring the facility throughout the night.)

Breakfast…..…..…………………………….….5:30a.m.-6:30a.m.
(Guests will wash up, eat breakfast, and gather their belongings. Each guest will receive a grab bag, which
will contain personal hygiene products and warm socks, as well as a sandwich and snack for later.)

Guests Depart………………………………………….…..6:30a.m.