City of Chattanooga to donate Airport Inn to The Grateful Gobbler, move forward with Provident Place
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The City of Chattanooga has announced plans plans to donate the former Airport Inn property to The Grateful Gobbler. The renovated property will become Provident Place, a secure and professionally operated shelter designed to help families with children move from crisis to stability.
They say First Things First will lead the day-to-day family support model, providing coaching, case management, parenting support, housing and public services navigation, and connections to childcare, employment, mental health, transportation and other community resources.
Three of the Maclellan Family Foundations provided $2.3 million in seed money to get the project started and renovate the Airport Inn.
“Just as it took a community-wide solution to address this critical problem, there was a small community of leaders that pulled it all together. Maclellan could not have done it without the wisdom and guidance from Lauren Hall, Dr. Keri Randolph, Betsy McCright, Bob Bosworth and Karlene Claridy. I am so grateful for the generosity of the City of Chattanooga. The donation of the Airport Inn was the catalyst that ultimately became Provident Place.”
– David Denmark, Executive Director of the Maclellan Foundation said.
On-site services will include: job readiness, basic financial literacy, parenting support groups, family support coaching, case management to build self-sufficiency, full-time and episodic childcare, housing and public services navigation, psychiatric evaluation, therapy and support, supplemental food support, youth/adolescent programming (including mentoring and tutoring), according to the City of Chattanooga.
“There are at least seven private companies, and 33 public entities (or non-profits) involved in Provident Place. To date, local companies providing key products or services to Provident Place are Tinker Ma, Zirkops Security, Playcore, Home Depot, Quality Fencing, Barnhart Energy Co, and Ooltewah Nursery. Many well-known and respected non-profits are coming together to serve these vulnerable neighbors. Among them are Chambliss Center for Children, United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Samaritan Center, Silverdale Baptist Church and Academy, and LifeSpring Community Health.
Several governmental agencies are also providing key services to the families served by Provident Place. Among them are CARTA, Chattanooga Housing Authority, EPB, Hamilton County Schools, and Hamilton County.”
– The City of Chattanooga shares.
Three of the Maclellan Family Foundations provided $2.3 million in seed money to get the project started and renovate the Airport Inn.
While First Things First will operate the shelter, more than a dozen community partners will provide services and support to families through wrap-around services: Big Brothers Big Sisters, American Job Center, Chattanooga State Community College, AIM Center, Chattanooga Room at the Inn, Parkridge Hospital, Volunteer Behavioral Health, Homeless Health Care, LifeSpring Community Health, Chattanooga Autism Center, Head Start, Rock Point Church, Orchard Knob Church, Hamilton County Medical Society and East Ridge Church of Christ.
