Pinnacle Resource Center began in 2008 when Jerry Voiles, the Morgan-Scott Project, and other concerned community leaders came together to create a coalition to combat the rising conditions of poverty in Scott, Morgan, and Campbell Counties.
By January 1, 2009, the doors to Scott County Homeless Shelter (SCHS) were opened. SCHS offered co-ed, drug-aware emergency housing to individuals in our area, with Jerry Voiles serving as the first director.
By 2011, SCHS had partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee to receive regular donations of food items and incredible bulk pricing for food to help stock a food pantry for individuals who need it. The pantry is still active in our services and is open every Tuesday to residents. It’s one of the only “customer choice” pantries in the area. This means patrons have an opportunity to “shop” the pantry for items they would like, rather than just being handed a pre-made box of goods.
In 2012, Jerry Voiles passed away suddenly. The Board of Directors reached out to a former employee, Ray Perry, to ask him to lead the organization. Ray accepted the position and is still our Executive Director today.
By the end of 2012, our organization began receiving a second Tennessee Housing Development Agency grant that allowed us to provide rent and utility assistance to qualifying families and individuals. This grant is still used to house hundreds of homeless families and individuals each year.
The years following were years of growth for our organization. In 2015, we were recognized as “Homeless Advocate of the Year” for our work and advocacy for the homeless population throughout the state at Tennessee’s annual Governor’s Housing Conference. SCHS began widening our scope of provided services by offering life skills training programs, financial management classes, and transportation options for our constituents. By expanding our service offerings, we have increased the population of individuals we can assist, from those who stay at the shelter to members of our broader community.
SCHS was also growing as a facility during this time. We added family rooms, allowing families to stay together during their time with us. In 2017, our facility underwent significant renovations, adding another family room and relocating administrative office spaces. This expansion provided more room for individuals in need of emergency shelter and allowed us to open the Day Center.
Our Day Center opened in 2018. It offers a free computer lab to clients and residents who need access to computers for things such as filling out job applications, applying for financial aid, keeping Department of Human Services appointments, filing for unemployment, and more. The Day Center provides 100% handicap-accessible shower and restroom facilities, enabling individuals who may need them due to water disconnection to shower or do laundry.
It was at this point that the Board of Directors realized SCHS was more than a homeless shelter, and it was time to find a name more fitting of what we do for the community. Thus, the name Pinnacle Resource Center. Our organization continues to evolve to meet the needs of those we serve, and we will always aim to be the pinnacle of defense against poverty for families and individuals in our community.
Pinnacle Resource Center now has two campuses: our Huntsville campus, which is a women’s and family facility, and our Jacksboro campus, which is a men’s facility.
LOCATION- 1513 JEFFERS ROAD, HUNTSVILLE, TN 37756
https://www.facebook.com/PinnacleResourceCenter
