Open Nightly
January – February, 2025

Why Room in the Inn – Louisville?

We believe that Room at the Inn – Louisville can address our community’s need for additional overnight shelter beds through the material and volunteer resources of houses of worship in the Louisville Metro area. At a time of increasing numbers of unhoused people on the streets, and with most of Louisville’s dedicated overnight shelters near or over capacity, demonstrating the viability of a local Room in the Inn program that could be expanded and replicated at other houses of worship in the community will be a significant step forward in extending compassion to our unhoused neighbors. Nashville’s Room in the Inn’s model has spread to over 100+ congregations in Nashville alone and successfully been replicated in 36 other cities, including Bardstown, Lexington, and Bowling Green, KY, Charlotte, NC, Washington, D.C., and Calgary, Canada demonstrating its viability for adoption in the Louisville Metro area.

What Is It?

The pilot program is modeled upon Nashville’s successful Room in the Inn program, which was started by Fr. Charles Stobel, pastor of Holy Name Catholic Church During a particularly cold winter night in 1985, Fr. Strobel opened the church to several unhoused neighbors sleeping nearby in their cars. Animated by that spirit, we envision opening up a space on our campus each night beginning January 6 through February 28, 2025, to 15 women (and their minor children, as necessary). From intake at 6pm to departure at 6:30 the next morning, shelter guests will be welcomed in the Cathedral space for dinner, a time of quiet relaxation, and peaceful sleep before departing after breakfast at 6am.

What are the Operating Hours?

The shelter will be staffed by volunteers – at least two at all times – during the hours between 5pm and 8am. They will assist in welcoming the shelter’s guests, making and serving dinner and breakfast, ensuring that the evening’s program proceeds smoothly, that everyone makes it to bed and wakes up on time, and providing cleanup after departure in the morning. Volunteer orientation and training will be provided.

Who is Up?

UP for Women and Children is a day shelter for women, female-identifying individuals, and their minor children, and has rented space on the Cathedral’s campus since 2017. While UP is not a ministry of the Cathedral, they are a crucial community partner who will provide guidance and logistical support for this pilot program. UP will primarily handle the pre-screening and intake responsibilities for Room in the Inn along with technical assistance.