https://www.atypicalplacefortransformations.com/

Atypical Place For Transformations, Chattanooga, TN (2026)

01/16/2026

On Tuesday 1/13/26 I spoke at Chattanooga City Council, afterwards I had the opportunity to speak directly with city leadership.

I was formally introduced to Deputy Chief Toby Hewitt and Assistant Chief of Special Operations, Rusty Morrison. We discussed the importance of communication, accountability, and they welcomed me to the table to discuss my ideas.

I also spoke with Casey Tinker, Director of Homeless Initiatives to ensure there is no miscommunication moving forward. I invited him to come out with me and see firsthand how I interact with individuals in the community and us work together.

On Tuesday 1/20/26 at 12:30 pm, we will be meeting at Odd Story Central, 1604 Central Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37408 it’s open to the public to discuss proposals to better serve our unhoused community.

Please share this. The more hearts and heads we have working together, the better we can serve our unhoused community.

If you care about Chattanooga and want to understand what is being discussed and why, I invite you to watch the full video.

01/13/2026

Hey friends and community,

I want to invite anyone who is able to come out tonight to the Chattanooga City Council meeting to stand in support of our unhoused neighbors.

My name is Kat. I’m a Chattanooga resident, a parent, and the Executive Director of Atypical Place for Transformations. I’ll be speaking tonight during public comment about what we’ve been seeing on the ground during recent encampment displacements, including Ho**er Road, and why our current approach is failing people.

I’ll be talking about:
What actually happens when people are told to leave with nowhere to go
The lack of shelter options, relocation plans, and nonprofit coordination
The emotional toll of losing the little stability people have
Why communication and transparency from the city matter so much

What I’m asking for is not complicated:
Advance notice and coordination with nonprofits so support can show up
Humane treatment that recognizes the dignity of every person
Real collaboration instead of silence

You don’t have to speak. You don’t have to agree on everything. Just showing up matters. When the room is full, it sends a message that people are paying attention and that our community cares how the most vulnerable among us are treated.

If you’re able, please come sit with us tonight. If not, please hold this work and these people in your thoughts.

Thank you for caring. Thank you for showing up in whatever way you can.

Meeting Schedule and Location
• Regular Council Meetings: They are held every Tuesday evening at 5:00 p.m. in the Assembly Room of the City Council Building, located at 1000 Lindsay Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402.

01/06/2026

Official Statement from Atypical Place for Transformations

Yesterday, Atypical Place for Transformations was present during the forced displacement of the Ho**er Road encampment in Chattanooga.

Between forty five and fifty unhoused individuals were displaced. At least twenty dogs and twenty cats were also displaced. Many of the individuals at Ho**er Road had lived there for years. Over time, they built insulated shelters, furniture, and stable living spaces. This occurred largely because so many other camps have been shut down that larger, long established camps have become overcrowded, forcing people to consolidate wherever they can survive.

For four years, Atypical Place for Transformations has worked in rapid response. When land is trespassed and individuals are required to move, we typically coordinate trucks, trailers, volunteers, and destination sites to relocate people and their belongings safely. Yesterday was different.

Yesterday, there was nowhere left to go.

We did not bring trucks or trailers. We did not bring volunteers. We showed up to sit with our friends, to cry with them, and to be honest. We had no location to direct them to. No land. No safe alternative. No plan.

The City of Chattanooga Office of Homelessness and Supportive Housing was on scene. Throughout the day, unhoused individuals were crying, asking for help, asking for resources, and asking where they were supposed to go next. The Office of Homelessness and Supportive Housing had no supplies to distribute and no relocation recommendations to provide.

People were in panic. People were packing years of belongings into wagons, carts, and suitcases with no destination. One arrest was made. The individual arrested was unhoused but did not live at Ho**er Road and was attempting to help friends gather and move their belongings. The arrest did not resolve the situation and did not provide a path forward for those being displaced.

Tensions were high. Emotions were raw. At one point, Officer Watson, who oversees homeless outreach, yelled at me. While I understand the stress and pressure of the situation, it is important to name that community advocates and nonprofit leaders do not deserve to be spoken to with hostility. His expressed frustration centered on the fact that, historically, these displacements have happened quietly, without media attention. While silence may have allowed these situations to move quickly in the past, silence is no longer acceptable.

This is now a crisis.

There is nowhere left for people to go.

We are bringing this to public attention because awareness is no longer optional. The system is at a standstill. Displacement without destination is not a solution. Clearing camps without resources does not resolve homelessness. It compounds trauma and puts lives at greater risk.

Atypical Place for Transformations is calling for immediate accountability, coordination, and transparency. The community deserves to know what is happening. Our unhoused neighbors deserve dignity, safety, and real options, not silence.

Change must occur. What happened yesterday cannot continue.

Signed
Atypical Place for Transformations

12/25/2025

From Atypical Place for Transformations

At Atypical Place for Transformations, we talk a lot about love, dignity, and what it truly means to show up for one another.

In our home, we teach that love is not conditional. Giving is not something that should come with expectations, behavior requirements, or fear of punishment. The idea that someone must be “good” to receive love, care, or a gift, or that they deserve nothing/coal if they fall short, isn’t something we believe reflects true love. That feels more like manipulation and control wrapped in kindness.

We teach our child that they are Santa. That being Santa means choosing generosity, offering kindness freely, and loving people as they are. It means giving without expecting anything in return, and caring for others simply because they are human and worthy.

That belief shapes everything we do as a family and as a nonprofit. This Christmas Eve, we are especially grateful. Natalie joined our family tradition and showed up with homemade creamy chicken noodle soup and Little Debbie’s to hand out. Simple acts, offered freely, shared with love. That is what the season looks like to us.

From our family to yours, we wish you a season filled with warmth, connection, and love. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Yule or the Winter Solstice, Bodhi Day, Pancha Ganapati, the New Year, or something entirely your own, we see you, we respect you, and we support you.

May this season remind us all that love is meant to be given freely, without conditions, and without fear.

With love,
Atypical Place for Transformations

12/17/2025

To our community, supporters, and viewers,

We want to take a moment to let you know that Atypical Place for Transformations has been working diligently during these deathly cold temperatures to support our unhoused community. Kat has gone out every night late to check on everyone and give out donations and open her home to whomever wants to get out of the weather.

Because of the generosity of others, we have been able to provide critical winter supplies. A heartfelt thank you to Josh Head for donating a large number of sleeping bags, dry bags, gloves, hats, and other warm essentials, and to Ryan May for an incredibly impactful donation of coats. We also want to extend deep gratitude to the Love Thy Neighbor small group, along with their volunteers and backers, for standing with our community and supporting this outreach. Thank you as well to the Samaritan Center for their generous donation of dry bags, which are essential for keeping belongings and supplies dry and safe.

There is a lot unfolding around a large encampment we support—approximately 50 acres, nearly 40 individuals, and more than 20 dogs. At this time, we are not able to share further details. What we can say is that this situation is delicate, active, and being handled with care.

Your thoughts, prayers, and concern are deeply appreciated. More information will be shared in the coming days as we continue working toward a resolution with city officials—one rooted in grace, understanding, dignity, and humanity.

Thank you for standing with us and for caring about our unhoused neighbors.

With gratitude,
Atypical Place for Transformations

12/11/2025

I want to give a huge thank you to Shelly Litchfield and Kimberly Howard, who run the incredible small group Love Thy Neighbor (LTN) together. This group is proactive, full of heart, and made up of so many amazing individuals who each run or support programs that uplift and strengthen our Chattanooga community every single day. Kimberly couldn’t be there yesterday, but her dedication and leadership are felt in everything LTN does.

They have been big partners and unwavering supporters of Atypical Place for Transformations, and yesterday they hosted an absolutely beautiful event for our unhoused neighbors.

Orchard Park SDA Church graciously opened their doors for this gathering. Janice and Earl Walwyn arranged for their church to be used for the event and were right there with us through setup and cleanup. Their kindness is felt the moment they walk into a room.

A huge, heartfelt shout-out to Rebecca — she did most of the cooking for the entire meal, and it was absolutely delicious. Her father, Marc, assisted with all the cutting and also personally helped finance the meal. This family embodies service, compassion, and generosity in action.

We also want to thank Elaine, who prepared goodie bags filled with essential items to help our unhoused neighbors survive the harsh conditions outside. And a big thank you to Christelle, who brought dog food, leashes, and collars so our unhoused individuals could care for their pets too. That kind of thoughtfulness means more than most people will ever realize.

The table was stunningly decorated, the food was incredible, and LTN showed up with coats, dry bags full of essentials, shower items, and so much more generosity than words can cover. We are deeply grateful for your continued partnership, your love, and your commitment to making sure every person in our community feels seen, valued, and cared for.

If you or anyone you know would like to host an event for our unhoused community, please reach out. The holiday season is especially heavy for those who are alone and without a home — even one act of kindness can brighten someone’s entire month.

Thank you all for being powerful allies in this work. ❤️

12/06/2025

We’re a little late sharing this, but we had a wonderfully Atypical Thanksgiving with our unhoused neighbors thanks to the generosity of so many incredible people.

In a world that feels heavy with negativity, days like this remind us that there is still so much good. We are deeply grateful for Carla and her wonderful volunteers with Project RES , who fills our van with groceries every single week for individuals who are recently housed and for families who are still struggling.

Thank you to Hamilton Community Church, who not only provided several fully prepared Thanksgiving meals, but also supplies us with 40 meals every week to deliver directly to those living without homes. Gary, thank you for showing up every week to help us load everything, you are appreciated more than you know.

A huge thank you as well to Elementary School Kylie Morrow Machacek, whose class donated turkey, dressing, and all the fixings so that our homeless neighbors could enjoy their very own Atypical Thanksgiving feast.

It was a beautiful day. The gratitude on the faces of our unhoused community, both on Thanksgiving and every week. It shows just how meaningful your support truly is. Because of YOU, people who may not have a home or family to celebrate with still experienced warmth, dignity, and love this holiday season.

From all of us at Atypical Place for Transformations:
THANK YOU. You made a difference.

11/21/2025

We’ve been a little quiet on social media lately, but please don’t mistake that for inactivity. Our nonprofit is still moving full force, and the work has only gotten heavier and more important.

One of the things we’ve been focused on is standing with our unhoused neighbors in court — people who are being charged with crimes like criminal trespassing and even arson for simply trying to stay warm. Homelessness should never be treated as a crime. And until that truth is reflected in our justice system, we will continue to show up, stand beside them, and make sure they’re not facing it alone.

We’re not stopping. We’re not slowing down. We’ll keep fighting until there’s liberty and justice for all.

Thank you all, truly, for your continued support and belief in our mission. It means everything.

If you’d like to learn how to become a court liaison, understand how the system works from the inside, and be part of this fight, please reach out. You’re welcome to join us in court and see firsthand how much every single voice matters.

Together, we create change. ❤️‍🩹🏛️

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. 🖤

Atypical Place For Transformations

01/16/2026

01/13/2026

01/06/2026

12/25/2025

12/17/2025

12/11/2025

12/06/2025

11/21/2025

08/21/2025

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06/09/2025

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