Finding Me On The Street

A number of changes have occurred since I first stepped foot on the streets and alleys of Nashville almost a year ago.

I am still found downtown but am now both riding a bicycle and walking the area within the inner freeway loop. I am also regularly in East Nashville and continue to spend time at the Community Care Fellowship, the Downtown Presbyterian, Holy Name Church, Riverfront and Centennial as well. I can sometimes be found in the West End area as well.

(Note: Although I try to make stops as regularly as possible, I am often found wandering aimlessly around the greater downtown area. Like the people I serve, there is no permanency to my routes and while I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause others, some folks simply don't want to go where other people are. As such, I must instead go to them....)

Get A Message To Me

If you're looking for resources to assist the Homeless in and around Nashville TN, you've come to the right place.

All efforts have been made to provide correct information but keeping a site like this relevant and useful requires frequent review and updating. If you discover an error or know of a change/addition in services, please let me know and I'll correct it ASAP.


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To get in touch with me you can click here, click the post title or click on the link in the sidebar.

I can be reached by phone at: 615-579-9510
(I am occasionally difficult to reach by phone but this is the best way to contact me during my normal business hours. While I try to answer every call, I am occasionally indisposed. if you reach my voicemail, please try me again a little later instead of leaving a message. Recently my phone has been so heavily called that I cannot keep up with my voicemails and the box is often full before noon on most days. I know this has been frustrating to some folks and to any of you who have tried to contact me without success, I humbly apologize.

Please do not be discouraged if you reach a full mailbox and try me again later in the day or the following morning before 10am. Chances are that by that time, my mailbox will be cleared and you will be able to leave me a message if we haven't spoken before then.

I can also be IM'd on Yahoo Messenger as "findstevefast" in the early mornings and in the evenings when online.

If you are Homeless and need to see me, I'll try to arrange a meeting time with you somewhere convenient as quickly as possible. If you can get to me, I can usually give you a bus pass to get you back or even out of the area...

In the meantime keep your faith, try to stay clean and don't lose hope - many of us really do care!

Distance Perspective Of Services in Nashville

(clicking on image launches fullsize picture)

Day Shelter Only

Campus For Human Development
( 532 8th Avenue South): 251-9791

Community Care Fellowship (Ken & Carol's - showers, laundry, food)
( 511 South 8th Street): 227-1953

Nashville Rescue Mission
(639 Lafayette Street): 780-9460 : 780-9460

Overnight Shelters

OVERNIGHT SHELTER
Men
Nashville Rescue Mission
(639 Lafayette Street): 780-9460

Salvation Army Men's Lodge
(631 Dickerson Pike): 242-0411

Women/Women & Children
Family Life Center
(1716 8th Ave North): 780-9463

Families w Fathers & Older Boys / Women & Women & Children
Safe Haven Family Shelter
1234 3rd Ave S: 256-8195


YOUTH ONLY
Oasis Center (13-17)
(1415 17th Ave S) : 327-4455

Homeless Children
Salvation Army Kare For Kids
(631 Dickerson Pike): 242-0411

HERO Program at Metro Nashville School (services to familieis w school-age children: 780-9460

Winter Shelter
(Nov 1-Mar 31)Room In The Inn
(532 8th Ave S): 251-7019

Public Intoxication - Police Dropoff
Guest House
(532 8th Ave S): 2517064

Domestic Violence Shelters & Assistance

Bridges Shelter: 599-5777

Domestic Violence Intervention Center (PEACE):
811 2nd Ave South: 227-2760

Family & Children Services
201 23rd Ave N: 327-0833

Gallatin Home Safe Shelter: 452-4315

Hope House Shelter: 931-381-8580

Mary Parish Center
131 Second Ave North, 5th. Floor: 256-5959

Metro Police Domestic Violence
811 2nd Ave South: (referrals only) 880-3000

Morning Star Sanctuary Shelter: 860-0003

Rape and Sexual Abuse Center
25 Lindsley Avenue: 24 hr HOTLINE -1 800 879-1999

Springfield Home Safe Shelter: 382-0829

Tennesse Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
2 International Plaza Drive : 386-9406

Ujima House Shelter (Hotline): 227-0902

Women Are Safe Shelter: 931-729-9885

YWCA domestic Violence Shelter (24 hours): 242-1199

Meals Available in Downtown Nashville

IMPORTANT: Serving places and times may not be accurate. Please verify ahead of time by calling if at all possible.

The Mobile Loaves and Fishes Food Serving Truck is now also operational and making meal deliveries around the city. Clicking on this link will take you to their homepage. Use the drop-down menu near the bottom of the page to select Tennessee and find the current day's serving location.

(Note: A number of local citizens and churches in the area also provide meals and food boxes to the Homeless but prefer to remain anonymous due to high demand & limited resources. If you are Homeless, you will probably find these protected locations only by luck or by paying attention to where other homeless individuals go daily for meals. )

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SUNDAY
Breakfast
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530a-630a (Overnite guests only)

Downtown Presbyterian Church
154 5th Ave North (254-7584): 830a


Lunch
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460):12-1p (Must attend Sunday service to receive lunch)

Community Care Fellowship (Ken & Carol's)
511 South 8th Street (227-1953): 1230-130p

Belmont Church/Luke 14:12
68 Music Square East (16th Ave S and Grand) (256-2123): 2p

First Church of the Nazarene (No lunch but food box after 1pm church service - attendance not required for groceries but encouraged. Also provides blankets when available)
510 Woodland St: 255-1289


Dinner
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530-630p

Woodcock Baptist Church (Sunday only - behind Fleming's Market)
816 S 6th St (254-9380): 530-630p



MONDAY
Breakfast
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530a-630a (Overnite guests only)


Lunch
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 12-1p

Samaritan Ministries
1041 28th Ave North (329-1523): 11-12p

Loaves & Fishes (Holy Name Church)
521 Woodland St (256-7256): 1130a-1230p


Dinner
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530-630p

Woodcock Baptist Church
816 S 6th St (254-9380): 530-630p


Tuesday
Breakfast
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530a-630a (Overnite guests only)


Lunch
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 12-1p

Community Care Fellowship (Ken & Carol's)
511 South 8th Street (227-1953): 1230-130p

Samaritan Ministries
1041 28th Ave North (329-1523): 11-12p

Edgehill/UMC
1502 Edgehill Ave (254-7628): 1130-1230p

Belmont Church/Luke 14:12
68 Music Square East (16th Ave S and Grand) (256-2123): 1145-1245


Dinner
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530-630p

Woodcock Baptist Church
816 S 6th St (254-9380): 530-630p

Bridge Ministry/Candy Christmas
Jefferson St Bridge 5:30-7pm

Wednesday
Breakfast
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530a-630a (Overnite guests only)

Campus For Human Development
532 8th Avenue South (251-9791): 6a


Lunch
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 12-1p

Loaves & Fishes (Holy Name Church)
521 Woodland St (256-7256): 1130a-1230p

Samaritan Ministries
1041 28th Ave North (329-1523): 11-12p

Downtown Presbyterian Church
154 5th Ave North (254-7584): 12-1p


Dinner
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530-630p

St John's United Methodist Church (food boxes available after dinner)
6300 Charlotte Pike: 356-1840 (voice-please call ahead to verify)

Woodcock Baptist Church
816 S 6th St (254-9380): 530-630p


Thursday
Breakfast
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530a-630a (Overnite guests only)


Lunch
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 12-1p

Community Care Fellowship (Ken & Carol's)
511 South 8th Street (227-1953): 1130-1230p

Campus For Human Development
532 8th Avenue South (251-9791): 1130a

Samaritan Ministries
1041 28th Ave North (329-1523): 12p


Dinner
The Foundry
1419 Clinton St (327-4003): 530-630p

Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530-630p

Woodcock Baptist Church
816 S 6th St (254-9380): 530-630p


Friday
Breakfast
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530a-630a (Overnite guests only)


Lunch
Belmont Church/Luke 14:12
68 Music Square East (16th Ave S and Grand) (256-2123): 1145-1245p

Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 12-1p

Samaritan Ministries
1041 28th Ave North (329-1523): 12p

Community Care Fellowship (Ken & Carol's)
511 South 8th Street (227-1953): 1130-1230p

Edgehill/UMC
1502 Edgehill Ave (254-7628): 1130-1230p

The Foundry
1419 Clinton St (327-4003): 1-3p: FOOD, CLOTHING & PRAYER DISTRIBUTION


Dinner
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530-630p

Woodcock Baptist Church
816 S 6th St (254-9380): 530-630p


Saturday
Breakfast
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530a-630a (Overnite guests only)


Lunch
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 12-1p

Belmont Church/Luke 14:12
68 Music Square East (16th Ave S and Grand) (256-2123): 1145-1245p

Loaves & Fishes (Holy Name Church)
521 Woodland St (256-7256): 1130a-1230p

Gordon Memorial
2334 Herman St (329-2779): 12-1p

Linda's Lunch
Corner of 8th Ave N & Commerce St: 12-1p

Dinner
Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette Street (780-9460): 530-630p

The Foundry
1419 Clinton St (327-4003): 530-630P

Woodcock Baptist Church
816 S 6th St (254-9380): 530-630p


Possible Contacts For Additional Meals, Food Boxes & Serving Information:
East Nashville Cooperative Ministry (244-7312)

Music City Mission
413 Veritas Street (333-9377

Oasis Center
1415 17th Ave S (327-4455)

Park Center
801 12th Avenue South (242-3576)

Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (Partial Listing of United Way local indigent service providers)

Showers, Laundry & Bathrooms

NOTE: Nashville has very few of these resources and the waits for showers and laundry can often be very long.

Campus For Human Development
532 8th Ave S: 257-9791
Toilets & showers
Nov. 1 through March 31: Sunday through Saturday from 6-730a
April 1 through Oct. 31: Monday through Friday from 6-730a

Community Care Fellowship (Ken & Carol's)
511 S 8th St: 227-1953
Toilets, showers & laundry (two loads per person -35lbs total)
Monday through Friday from 8:30-930a

Nashville Rescue Mission
639 Lafayette St: 780-9460
Toilets & showers

Oasis Center (runaway & homeless teens)
1415 17th Ave S: 327-4455
Toilets & showers

Park Center 579-9510 (must be referred by me to use these facilities)
801 12st Ave South
Nashville, TN 37203
Laundry, toilets, showers
By referral

(Very Important Note: The majority of downtown Nashville businesses do not typically allow free access to restrooms. Also, wearing/carrying a backpack often indicates to them that you are homeless, even if you are not. If you are able to use a business restroom, please do so with courtesy and respect and leave it as clean upon your exit as it was when you entered. Public buildings, such as the downtown library, typically allow about the only unfettered access to the restrooms in the city, but again, please be respectful of the business's facility and conduct yourself as if it was your mother's "guest" bathroom - leave it clean, flushed and sparkling whenever possible. Your conduct dictates whether it will be available for yourself and others in the future.)

Nashville Area Churches

Anchor Fellowship, 629 23rd Ave South: 733-0522

Central Church of Christ, 145 5th Ave North: 256-0789

Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway: 255-7729

Downtown Presbyterian Church, 154 5th Ave: 254-4741

First Baptist Church, 108 7th Ave South: 664-6000

First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, 900 James Robertson Parkway: 255-8757

First Church of the Nazarene, 510 Woodland St: 255-1289

First Lutheran Church-ELCA, 113 8th Ave S: 256-7580

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 615 6th Ave S: 256-6359

Mckendree United Methodist Church, 520 Commerce St: 271-2620

Midtown Fellowship, 2907 12th Ave S: 269-9015

Mosaic Nashville, 629 3rd Ave South: 473-6485

St Mary's Catholic Church, 330 5th Avenue North: 256-1704

Woodcock Baptist Church, 816 S 6th st: 254-9380

Transportation, Bus Passes And Maps Of Nashville

Google Local Map Search

Mapquest

Bus Routes (MTA)

Taxi Cabs

Traveler's Aid (provides assistance w bus tickets and temp lodging (usually the Mission) NO GAS VOUCHERS!
639 Lafayette St 312-1535

Downtown Clinic Van
526 8th Ave S 862-7900

Bus Passes:
Steve at Community Care Fellowship: single ride and all day passes when available.

Operation Stand Down: See JC or Kathleen - MUST be a Veteran and must have a legitimate need.

Campus For Human Development: At their discretion

Identification Assistance

Community Care Fellowship (my office): I provide some assistance in obtaining identification, social security cards and birth certificates but am limited in my ability to do so. As such, I am usually able to purchase only 9 or 10 IDs a month.

Downtown Presbyterian Church : Pastor Ken Locke or his wonderful assistant Angela will purchase ID for an individual once every three years. To start, you must first go to the DMV in the basement of the Snodgrass building , fill out the necessary paperwork and then inform the clerk that you will be paying via the Downtown Presbyterian Church. They will give you a receipt that you must take to Pastor Ken in order to obtain the check to purchase your ID.

The Campus For Human Development: provides ID and birth certificate assistance. Call (615) 251-9791 for details.

General Costs
State ID: $8-$12
(A word about obtaining state ID: If you have had a Tennessee ID previously, you do not need much in the way of alternate identification in order to receive one. If you are from another state, it can be much more difficult to obtain the ID but I can assist you in the effort)

Birth Certificates: $7 short-form/$12 longform (421 5th Ave N)

Social Security cards/applications: 140 Cude Lane, Madison: 772-1213 /4527 Nolensville Pike: 781-5800

SSDI application advocacy for mental illness - Nashville SOAR Team: Will Connelly at Park Center
(Office at 511 South 8th St in the Community Care Fellowship building)

Rent & Utilities Assistance

Campus For Human Development
( 532 8th Avenue South): 251-9791

Ladies of Charity (1 day each month - call first - NO walk-ins)
2212 State St: 327-3430

Metro Action Commission
1624 5th Ave North: 862-8860 (ext 124)

Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp. (Free Air Conditioners to members)
Rutherford County – The Community Helpers, 814 S. Church Street, Murfreesboro (615-898-0617); Williamson County – Graceworks, 104 SE Parkway, Franklin (615-794-9055); Wilson County – Wilson County Community Help Center, 203 W. High Street, Lebanon (615-449-1856); and Cannon County – Cannon County Senior Citizens Center, 609 Lehman Street, Woodbury (615-563-5304)

Project Help / Big Brothers (Helps with shutoff notices, power bills)
269-6835

Tennessee Department of Human Services (Accesses federal funds to assist with utility bills)
313-4766

United Way Misc. Assistance Sites (see webpage for a listing of groups and services they provide)

Medication Assistance

Centerstone Appt Line: 615-460-4357

Cover Tennessee (multiple programs)
312 8th Avenue N. 16th Floor Tennessee Tower

Dispensary of Hope (Receives donated medications - must qualify first)
888-428-HOPE (4673) / info@dispensaryofhope.org

Matthew Walker Community Health Center (onsite pharmacy offers scripts at 45-50% less than stores)
1035 14th Ave N
(Mon-Tue 8:00am- 5:00pm, Wed 8:00am- 7:00pm, Thu-Fri 8:00am- 5:00pm, Sat 9:00am- 1:00pm)
(615) 327-9400

Mental Health Cooperative
275 Cumberland Bend Dr
Main #: 615-726-3340 / 888-844-2005 / 888-882-8696.
Pharmacy: 743-1617
info@mhc-tn.org

Metro Action: 615-862-8860

Needymeds.com (web only)

Partners for Prescriptions Assistance
1-888-477-2669

Patient Advocate (co-pay assistance & tx medications)
1-866-512-3861

RX Assist (web resource for patient assistance programs)

RX outreach 1-800-769-3880

St. Thomas Hospital Plaza Pharmacy
4230 Harding Pike suite A-214
(615) 222-2111

Together RX (script savings program)
1-800-865-7211

Housing Resources

General Housing Links

Davidson County Section 8 Apartment Listings

Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency

Nashville Social Services Homeless Page

TN Shelters & Housing

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IMPORTANT! The following apartment complexes have special requirements for admittance. While every attempt has been made at ensuring accuracy in the requirements listed here, rules do occasionally change, so please contact the rental office to ensure you are able to meet all criteria they might have.

1. Crown Courts, Hope Terrace, Vultee, and Fisk Court - Applicants must be homeless, proof of completion of drug treatment program, committed to sobriety, less than $21,500/year income level.

2. Mercury Courts and the Parks at Mercury Courts - applicant must be low income (less than $21,500/year income level. To qualify for section 8 housing, applicant MUST BE HOMELESS. Drug testing upon application and again at move-in, no previous evictions, no active alcohol and/or drug addictions.

3. Shelby Courtyards, Rex Courts, Eastwood Courts, Village Place and Greentree Terrace - applicants must have low or moderate income levels ($32,950/year) and have no active alcohol and/or drug addictions.
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Single Residency Occupancy (SRO) Only:

Fisk Courts (Chronically homeless)
405 Fisk St: 726-2696 (Urban Housing Solutions Property)


Mercury Courts (Background check w no recent charges, drug test & no evictions)
411 Murfreesboro Rd: 726-2696 (Urban Housing Solutions Property)

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Addiction Recovery Housing
(also see Drug & Alcohol Treatment Programs and Facilities)

Crown Courts
901-903 N. 12th St.: 726-2696 (Urban Housing Solutions Journeys of Hope Property)

Hope Terrace
3909 Alameda St.: 726-2696 (Urban Housing Solutions Property)

TLC Housing (Recovery housing for men and women)
593-7074

Vultee Gardens
1148 Vultee Blvd.: 726-2696 (Urban Housing Solutions Journeys of Hope Property)

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Mental Health

Clay Courts
1922 5th Ave. North: 726-2696 (Urban Housing Solutions Property)

Park Center Housing (Individuals w mental illnesses & drug/alcohol addictions)
822 Woodland St: 228-1164

Woodland Street Apts
822 Woodland St.: 726-2696 (Urban Housing Solutions Property)

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Transitional Housing

Hope Center (Women)
1716 8th Ave N: 312-1580

Matthew 25
625 Benton Ave: 383-9577

Nashville Rescue Mission
Anchor House (Men 18-24)