All youth deserve a street-free sleep.
There are 1,094 young people ages 18-24 who experience homelessness every year in Nashville. Nationally, 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ.
Nashville Launch Pad is a community and volunteer driven cold weather emergency shelter, created specifically to be LGBTQ open and affirming, that provides meals, showers, safer sleep, and supplies to young people in need. 45% of the youth we serve identify as LGBTQ and 56% have been without a stable place to stay for over 6 months.
Nashville Launch Pad started in 2014, offering shelter 1-2 nights a week. We have grown every year, now offering shelter to up to 25 youth for 5 nights a week this winter. Since November 1st, 2018 Launch Pad has provided over 1,560 beds to youth in our community.
Launch Pad is possible because of the work of over 100 committed volunteers who prepare meals, staff the shelter, do laundry, and more. We do not have one dedicated space but rely on our wonderful community partners at West End UMC, Boys & Girls Club of Middle TN, City Road Chapel UMC, and Andrew Price UMC to create space to shelter youth. As a grassroots organization based in volunteers and the local community, every donation makes a powerful difference for the young people we shelter.
$8 = dinner for one youth
$16 = one weekly unlimited bus pass
$45 = breakfast for 20 youth
$100 = 50 pairs of underwear
$250 = first aid supplies for 250 youth