NEED I: Homeless Youth
Whether they are fleeing family violence or aging out of foster care, Davidson County's under-21 homeless population is growing. Oasis Center is the only local provider of street-based outreach, assistance, and temporary housing for this group of youth.

Last year, Oasis Center worked with more than 250 youth living on the streets, 50% of whom were formerly in state custody

The Youth Opportunity Center will greatly expand opportunities and assistance for young people facing homelessness, offering a centralized, coordinated support system for every young person who is homeless or in imminent danger of homelessness. We ll be doubling the number of beds for formerly homeless youth and creating the only drop-in center for homeless and runaway youth in the state.

NEED II: Youth In Crisis
Oasis Center currently operates Middle Tennessee's only emergency shelter serving youth in crisis ages 13-17. Each year, more than 275 teens from nearly every public school reside in this shelter for an average of 14 days.

The Youth Opportunity Center, which will offer an in-house MNPS classroom that Oasis shelter residents attend every single day, will provide these young residents with opportunities to connect with caring adults across the entire continuum of programs offered by the five agencies.

NEED III: Transportation
Transportation is one of the greatest barriers young people face when they are trying to access the help and opportunities they know can improve their lives. The Youth Opportunity Center will be located along one of the most active public transportation routes in Nashville. As the "home base" for Project Safe Place, the Youth Opportunity Center will also offer free transportation to the center for any young person in crisis who enters one of 400+ designated Project Safe Place sites.

NEED IV: College Access
Although 90% of Metro Nashville public high school students say they want to go to college, less than half actually make it there. With an average guidance counselor: student ratio of 1:400, our school system simply does not have the resources to provide students, particularly would-be first generation college students, with the support to get to college. The Youth Opportunity Center will house a new college access program targeted to meet the specific needs of students for whom post-secondary education will be the only sure pathway out of poverty.

Need V: Conference and Training Facilities
Research shows that nearly 60% of youth in our country are completely disengaged from civic life. Evidence demonstrates that youth who are involved in the community are 22% more likely to succeed in completing high school and college. Additionally, faculty members in our schools continually need training and development to help them address the emerging behavioral issues they face in the classroom such as violence and bullying. New approaches and strategies must be taught which enable them to provide an environment for students to become both academically and personally successful.

The Youth Opportunity Center will house a large conference facility to be used by both youth and adults. This center will be available to any youth group in Nashville, providing meeting space, multi-media and wireless internet access. Caring adults will train youth to lead changes on both a personal and community level. STARS will also train faculty to recognize early symptoms of destructive behavior as well as systemic approaches to ensure a safe school environment.

NEED VI: Agency Partnership Benefits
There has never been a more important time for nonprofit organizations to operate efficiently, effectively, and in a manner that doesn't confuse clients or duplicate other existing services. The partnership between four agencies will lower overhead and operating expenses, and also eliminate duplication of space. Upon the completion of a successful campaign, each agency will pay only their pro-rata share of operating costs (estimated at $5.50/s.f.), no rent. This alone will save over $150,000 annually.