Nashville Throws A Slumber Party To Get Homeless Youth Counted

Nearly 100 Metro employees and volunteers fanned out through Nashville overnight to count the homeless population. The results of the annual count determine how much federal funding will be available. The city has a special way of counting young homeless people — who are notoriously difficult to find.

Many homeless youth don’t sleep on the streets or in shelters.

They choose to couch hop or get motel rooms together. And they go uncounted. So while officials estimate as many as 3,000 kids are homeless here, only about 200 were counted last year.

So for the second time, the Oasis Center threw a slumber party, inviting homeless young people to come for pizza, free medical care and clothing, a place to sleep, and even a talent show.

“Dancing, singing, and some spoken word. I know I’ll see some spoken word,” said Kalwin
Perrin, the show’s emcee. He’s formerly homeless.

As teens arrived and filled lockers they heard the rules from Michelle Hall, director of crisis services.

“No fighting in actions or words tonight. This is a time to have fun. We’re going to have a lot of fun,” she told them.

Attendees also filled out surveys about their demographics struggles — whether they came from foster care, have been pregnant, or identify as LGBT — so the city can respond with specific programs.

Hall says local emergency shelters have improved. But low-cost housing is in such short supply that she still notices people camping in the parking lot behind Oasis.

“That’s how hard it is for them to find places to lay their head at night. They’re opting to stay in our parking lot.”

But this one night, everyone was welcomed inside — and counted.