MURFREESBORO, TN (wgns nEWS) - As 2026 begins, The Journey Home is taking a moment to look back with gratitude and look forward with renewed determination. Leadership says the heart of their mission has always been built on partnership, noting, “The most significant structures in our community are not made of steel or brick, but of the partnership we share with neighbors like you.” That partnership proved essential in 2025, a year when the cost of housing in Rutherford County continued to climb. With the average three‑bedroom rental reaching $1,600 a month, families often needed nearly $5,000 upfront just to secure a lease. Thanks to community support, many were able to overcome those barriers, receive case‑management guidance, move into safe housing, and begin rebuilding their lives with access to health and nutrition resources.

But the organization is clear that the work doesn’t pause when the calendar turns. Instead, 2026 brings a deeper commitment to helping families navigate the financial and emotional hurdles that stand between them and long‑term stability. Whether through donations or volunteer hours, supporters remain the foundation of the organization’s mission, and leadership says they are the reason the community continues to grow stronger and more stable.

This year also marks the first full chapter of The Journey Home’s expanded campus, which broadens the organization’s role from a place of refuge to a launchpad for transformation. The larger facility allows staff to move beyond emergency response and into whole‑person restoration, offering pathways to housing, employment, recovery, and community connection.

Expanded day services now include meals, showers, laundry, medical and mental‑health connections, and ongoing case management—all delivered with the compassion that has long defined the organization. The center is also becoming a regional anchor for collaboration, bringing together churches, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and civic leaders to address homelessness at its roots.

For The Journey Home, 2026 is more than a new year. It’s a new beginning for neighbors seeking stability and for a community determined to build hope together. For more information, visit their website: https://lovegodservepeople.org/