Emergency Shelter

The teenage years can feel overwhelming—both for young people and for their families. Often teens and families have a tough time expressing their feelings or dealing with change and can end up feeling hurt, confused, and like they’ve lost all control.

While every family’s situation is unique, the Emergency Shelter provides a safe place to stay for teens, ages 13–17, who have run away or need a break from home. During a short-term stay, we work with teens and families to stabilize crisis situations, heal deep wounds, and find long-term solutions so youth and families can stay together.

Each day, young people staying at the Shelter participate in counseling, attend school at the Oasis Learning Center (a partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools), engage in group activities, and connect with other Oasis programs like the Art Studio and Oasis College Connection.

Families also participate in counseling during the young person’s shelter stay. Once the shelter stay is over, youth and families create a personalized plan to help stay engaged in services and to sustain positive change and healthy home environments.

The Emergency Shelter is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more detailed information, see our Funding Section on the Financials & Governance page here.