https://www.atypicalplacefortransformations.com/

Atypical Place For Transformations, Chattanooga, TN (2025)

08/21/2025

✨ Dear friends, family, and supporters of Atypical Place for Transformations ✨

I want to take a moment to be real and vulnerable with you. Many of you may have noticed that I haven’t been posting regularly, and I want to acknowledge that. The truth is, I’ve been walking through some very heavy life transitions, and in the middle of it all, I’ve had to step back and create space for my own mental health.

That means our nonprofit has scaled back in some areas, and I haven’t been personally taking calls the way I used to. It’s not because my heart isn’t here—it absolutely is. But boundaries and rest are important, and I’m learning to honor those needs so that I can continue this work in a healthy and sustainable way.

One thing that hasn’t stopped, even if you don’t always see it on social media, is our weekly food drops. We continue to show up for the tent cities and for the apartments where our people have been recently housed. That part of our mission has never wavered, and it won’t.

We love our people deeply, and we are so grateful for every single one of you who has believed in us and supported us along the way. Please keep us in your prayers as we walk through these next big transitions. Your love and encouragement mean more than words can ever say.

Many thanks as well to Carla and all of her volunteers at Project RES for their generous donation of food, and to for their continued contributions. Your kindness and partnership make all the difference.

Together, we are making real changes in the lives of those we serve. Thank you, from the very bottom of our hearts. ❤️

— Atypical Place for Transformations

07/05/2025

Change is Possible When People Have the Resources They Deserve

We are overwhelmed with pride and joy watching Joan’s transformation unfold. For months, she tried relentlessly to get a job while experiencing homelessness — but the barriers were immense. It’s nearly impossible to maintain employment when you don’t have a safe place to sleep, a way to shower, clean clothes, or the ability to protect your belongings while you’re at work.

But everything changed once Joan got housed.

Today, she is thriving in her new apartment, and more importantly — she’s flourishing within herself. She landed a full-time job at a local café and is beaming with pride. Visiting her at work brought tears to my eyes. She was full of life, confident, and glowing with hope.

This is what happens when people have the resources they need: they rise.

We are so proud of you, Joan. Your story reminds us why we do what we do.

06/14/2025

We want to take a moment to thank every single person who has contributed to supporting our unhoused neighbors and those who have recently transitioned into housing. 💛 Your generosity—whether through donations, meals, time, or love—makes an enormous difference in the lives of those we serve.

A huge shout out to Carla and all her volunteers at Project RESΩ, and their nonprofit for consistently providing food and support to the individuals in our apartment program. Your efforts bring dignity and nourishment to people who are rebuilding their lives, and we are endlessly grateful.

Another special thank you to and AVAD for donating pre-cooked, individually portioned meals for the tent cities. These meals are not just food—they are care packages filled with compassion, hope, and a reminder that people are not forgotten.

Together, we are building a community where everyone has a chance to belong, heal, and transform. Thank you for being part of this mission. 💫

06/09/2025

This morning at Atypical Place for Transformations…

We followed our usual Sunday rhythm. Kat went to the tent cities and the apartments our once unhoused friends now live to pick up our people, while Allie and her family stayed back, cooking breakfast with love.

Our home—what we offer—isn’t just a house. It’s a sanctuary. A church. A place where anyone can come as is.

While everyone is always invited to attend church, many of our members chose to stay home today. And honestly? That was holy, too.

It was a morning to simply be—to cry, to take a shot of whiskey, to roll up, to let the grief and laughter mix as they needed to. We hugged. We held space. We reminded each other that healing doesn’t always happen in silence—it happens in the presence of love.

Church doesn’t have to be a building with a steeple.
Church is where you are accepted, where no one is judged, and where grace shows up in all its gritty, honest, human forms.

Just like in the Gospel of Mark:

“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’
On hearing this, Jesus said to them,
‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
— Mark 2:15–17

Let that sink in.

We are proud to be a place for the ones who are still healing, still hurting, still figuring it out. Because that’s who Jesus showed up for—and that’s who we show up for, too.

Come as you are. You are already welcome here. 🖤

05/25/2025

Food scarcity is real.

This entire meal — Waldorf salad with fresh walnuts, apples, and grapes, bacon-wrapped steaks with mushrooms and garlic, shrimp tortellini with fresh basil — came entirely from the food pantry at Project RESΩ. And it was delicious.

If you or someone you know is struggling to put meals on the table, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Project RES. There is no shame in receiving help — only gratitude for those who give it.

Cooking has always been my love language. It’s how I show care, comfort, and connection. Thanks to Carla and her incredible volunteers, I get to keep doing that for the people I love, with dignity and with flavor.

Thank you, Project RES, for feeding bellies and souls.

05/11/2025

Tonight was unexpected.
I got a phone call that I immediately needed to go check on some of our individuals living in the tent cities. I was already downtown, so I headed straight over—unprepared, wearing my Chacos instead of boots. After just a few minutes on the ground, my feet were completely covered in mud. The photo here is after I’d already scrubbed them down as best as I could before getting back in my car.

Here’s the reality: I got to come home and wash my feet. I get to crawl into a warm, clean bed.
But the individuals we serve? They don’t have that option.

People often say, “Why don’t they just get a job?”
But how can someone hold a job when they don’t even have access to basic hygiene—no place to shower, no clean clothes, no safe place to rest? How do you show up when you smell like smoke, not because you want to, but because it’s the only way to stay warm and cook food?

The conditions aren’t just hard—they’re inhumane.
Not because people choose it, but because there’s nowhere else for them to go. There’s no available land. There’s no safety net.

Until we stand in their shoes—or in their mud-soaked sandals—we won’t fully understand.
But we at Atypical Place for Transformations will keep showing up, because everyone deserves dignity.

Let’s stop judging and start seeing.

04/27/2025

This Sunday was another typical Atypical day!
I started the morning by picking up our friends from the tent cities for church, then headed over to the apartments to pick up our members who have recently been housed.

Midway through, I got a call from our therapist — one of our former members was struggling badly and feeling suicidal. I hurried home and explained to everyone that it was an emergency, and that I was so sorry but I needed to leave as soon as I dropped everyone off at my house and couldn’t stay to cook breakfast.

Thankfully, I was able to locate them, tell them how proud I was for reaching out, remind them that it’s okay to not be okay, and we went together to Valley for the support they needed. They’ll be staying inpatient for a while to focus on healing.

By the time I made it home, it was too late for church — but what I came home to brought tears to my eyes: a hot breakfast waiting for me, and everyone pitching in, cleaning the house, and mowing the yard.

I am so incredibly blessed to have such amazing individuals in my life. This is what community looks like. This is why we keep showing up, no matter what.

04/25/2025

From Homeless to Housed: A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community

At Atypical Place for Transformation, we are overflowing with gratitude as we reflect on how far we’ve come—and how many lives have been transformed because of YOU.

A huge shoutout and thank you to our friends at Project Rescue. Your nonprofit’s generous donations of food have been an incredible blessing. Because of your continued support, so many individuals in our program who have recently been housed are now able to stock their fridges and eat regular meals—something that so many of us take for granted.

We also want to extend our deepest thanks to Hamilton Community Church for their faithful dedication to our mission. The prepared meals you provide each week are not only nourishing bodies, they’re also feeding hope. These meals have helped countless individuals in our community who are currently unhoused find comfort, dignity, and connection.

To ROC— Especially Noah who takes the time to meet with our board to see how we can collaborate, to make sure we can continue to serve our members. We see you all, we appreciate you, and we thank you. Even during these challenging times when housing vouchers have been suspended, your persistence, compassion, and relentless effort are continuing to open doors for our individuals to be placed into homes. Your work is changing lives every single day.

And last but never least, thank you to all of our followers, donors, and community supporters. Your donations of clothing and furniture have helped turn empty spaces into true homes. We’ve come a long way from everyone being unhoused—and because of you, many now have beds to sleep in, warm meals to eat, and the dignity of calling a place their own.

Step by step, we are all making a difference. Whether you’ve given time, shared a post, dropped off a pair of socks, or prayed for our journey—you are part of this transformation. Together, we’re not just offering services—we’re rebuilding lives.

With so much love and gratitude,
— All of us at Atypical Place for Transformation

04/22/2025

Big news — all of our core Atypical members are housed!
This is a huge milestone, and we’re celebrating every single step that got us here. But housing is just the beginning — maintaining independence is where the real work begins.

Atypical is shifting into growth mode. We’re working hard toward our long-term goal: building tiny homes for transitional living. A space where folks can catch their breath, build skills, and move forward with purpose.

We’re proud, we’re grateful, and we’re not done yet.
Want to help?
We’d love to connect with you. Whether it’s time, resources, or support — there’s space for you in this mission.

Let’s keep going.

04/16/2025

Volunteer Needed – Help One of Our Members Get to the DMV!

We’re looking for a kind-hearted volunteer who can help one of our amazing community members by taking her to the DMV to get her driver’s license.

This small act of support can make a huge impact on her journey toward independence and stability!

If you have a few hours to spare this week and would like to help out, please send us a message or comment below. We’ll coordinate all the details with you!

Thank you for being part of a community that shows up for one another.

03/23/2025

Your Mental Health Matters.

At Atypical Place for Transformations, we are deep advocates for mental health support. Everyone deserves to have someone to talk to—someone who shows up, listens, and stands by them when life feels heavy.

Huge shoutout to Tim for stepping up early this morning to take one of our members to the Joe Johnson Crisis Stabilization Unit. We also have another member going in for evaluation tomorrow!
Your compassion and reliability make all the difference. We are truly blessed to walk alongside people as they seek healing and hope.

It’s OK to not be OK.
And it’s important to have a community that helps you carry the weight.

We are proud to be part of ending the stigma around mental health struggles.
Personally, I’ve been experiencing situational depression plus the change in my hormones.
I make sure to take my antidepressants each morning, and I’m so excited to start talk therapy next week. Healing is not linear-but it’s always worth it.

Mental health is health.
Get outside today. Soak up some sunshine. Reach out to someone. And if you need a listening ear, we’re here. Always.

We love you.
We see you.
And we accept you exactly as you are.
AS IS.

With care,
Kat Zwitter
Executive Director, Atypical Place for Transformations

03/21/2025

Atypical Place for Transformations is Overflowing with Gratitude!

We want to extend our deepest thanks to Project RES and for the incredible support you’ve shown our mission.

Project RES, your generous donation of food has allowed us to stock the homes of individuals who were once homeless (and still homeless) and are now transitioning into safe, stable housing. Your impact is immediate and life-changing.

Hamilton Community Church, your ready-to-go meals are providing comfort, nourishment, and dignity to those who need it most. Your ongoing support is a blessing to so many.

Together, we are helping bridge the gap for those on the margins—meeting essential needs and offering hope. Because of you, we are growing. Because of you, we are making a huge difference in our community.

From all of us at Atypical Place for Transformations: thank you for standing with us. This work takes a village, and we’re so proud to be doing it alongside you.

With gratitude,
The Atypical Team

Atypical Place For Transformations

08/21/2025

07/05/2025

06/14/2025

06/09/2025

05/25/2025

05/11/2025

04/27/2025

04/25/2025

04/22/2025

04/16/2025

03/23/2025

03/21/2025

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