Groundbreaking Ceremony
March 23, 2019 at 10am-11:30am
2055 Southern Avenue
RSVP to [email protected]
Please join us for a groundbreaking ceremony of our upcoming Youth Emergency Center, which will serve as Memphis’s only LGBTQ specific emergency shelter and the only drop-in center in the city that serves youth experiencing homelessness. We’ll toast our efforts and present a few remarks from our leadership and the project’s major supporters.
The Metamorphosis Project is a holistic, wrap-around approach to helping LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness gain independence. 5 years ago, OUTMemphis’ programs for young people were continually overwhelmed by youth contacting the center seeking emergency housing services. After piloting possible solutions, including host families and hotel vouchers, OUTMemphis began pursuing the The Metamorphosis Project, our long-term solution to this issue.
The Metamorphosis Project includes three arms of care: Youth Emergency Services, Rapid Re-Housing, and The Youth Emergency Center. Each arm is equally important to create a holistic approach to helping LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness gain independence. The Youth Emergency Services portion includes hygiene supplies, food, clothes, bus passes, case management and more. Rapid Re-Housing, which the organization began providing in 2017, provides participants with 1 year of rental assistance alongside guidance on renting your first home. The final arm is the shelter, which OUTMemphis believes will have the most significant impact. In addition to hosting our youth services staff, workshops, hygiene services, and case management, the Metamorphosis Center will solve the critical gap between the moment a young adult contacts OUTMemphis and our ability to link to longer term housing.
The Metamorphosis Youth Emergency Center is made possible by the Assisi Foundation and the Plough foundation in addition to major gifts from Mystic Krewe of Pegasus, Friends of George’s, and Manna House were also major contributors. The Metamorphosis building will start with four beds, a classroom, meeting and office space, a kitchen, laundry, storage, and parking.
The Center will aim to open operations within a year. To support the operations, staff, and services of the Metamorphosis Project, you can make a tax-deductible, one-time or sustaining donation, or contact Stephanie Reyes, Director of Development, [email protected].
The location is 2055 Southern Ave. Memphis, TN 38104, less than half a mile from OUTMemphis. This event will occur rain or shine!
If you would like to attend this amazing event, please RSVP by sending an email to Stephanie Reyes, Director of Development. Please RSVP by March 20th. For more information, check out our Facebook Event or send us an email.
