About REACH Chattanooga

Every year in Hamilton County, men leave jail and treatment centers ready to rebuild their lives — but without a safe place to go, many end up right back where they started.

REACH Chattanooga was created to close that gap.

We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit building structured, NARR Level II recovery housing in Chattanooga for men transitioning from incarceration and rehabilitation into long-term sobriety and independence.

Recovery housing in Chattanooga built to close the gap

Four men engaged in a discussion in a room with bookshelves and posters.

A group of diverse people gathered in a circular discussion, with a man in glasses and a plaid shirt speaking, others listening attentively, in a modern indoor setting with brick wall background.

For many men, reentry isn’t a fresh start.

It’s a return to the same environment that fueled addiction in the first place.

Without stable housing:

Relapse rates increase dramatically
Recidivism remains high
Families and communities continue to suffer

This gap in care is often called the “Re-entry Cliff.” REACH Chattanooga exists to build a bridge over it.

The Reality: The Long Walk Home

A group of diverse people sitting on the floor in a circle, engaging in conversation, with trees visible outside through large windows.

The Work: Building Real Recovery Infrastructure

We are currently in the launch phase, working to establish our first recovery residence in Hamilton County.

This will be a SAFE ACT–compliant, NARR Level II home with structured oversight, accountability, and a strong recovery foundation.

This is not temporary shelter. This is a long-term solution designed to support real change.

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The Vision: Life Beyond the House

Our vision extends far beyond one home.

REACH Chattanooga is building a network of recovery housing connected to workforce opportunities, creating a direct path from recovery to employment and independence.

We believe:

Recovery requires stability
Stability requires structure
Dignity is restored through meaningful work

Aerial view of city buildings and a glass pyramid structure at sunset, with mountains in the background and a metal walking bridge in the foreground.

Our Mission

To provide safe, structured NARR Level II housing that empowers men transitioning from rehab and incarceration to achieve long-term sobriety and independence.

Our Core Values

Recovery
A safe, drug- and alcohol-free environment is the foundation.

Empowerment
Residents gain the tools to manage life independently.

Accountability
Structure, testing, and expectations create growth.

Community
Brotherhood and shared experience sustain recovery.

Hope
Every man is capable of a full turnaround.

City skyline at dusk with buildings, a bridge, and hills in the background, some buildings are lit with colorful lights, and there is fog in the distance.

Become Part of the Change

This is a community-wide problem — and it requires a community-wide solution.

REACH Chattanooga is building something that does not currently exist at the level it’s needed in Hamilton County.

Now is the time to be part of it.

BECOME PART OF THE CHANGE

Our Founding Team

LUKE SMITH

Founder, Chair

After more than a decade battling addiction, Luke found recovery through structure, community, and accountability. Now, he’s building REACH Chattanooga to give other men the same opportunity — a safe, structured path back to independence and long-term sobriety.

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AMANDA SMITH

Vice Chair

With lived experience in recovery and a background in peer support, Amanda brings both compassion and structure to REACH Chattanooga. She’s committed to helping others find stability, purpose, and lasting change through the same recovery principles that transformed her life.