Beginning in fall of 2019, OUTMemphis is thrilled to expand our facilities across the city of Memphis, a significant acceleration of our robust programs and services and the communities that we are lucky to serve.

 

Our Administrative and Donation Center, located at 832 Virginia Run Cove, near the intersection of Summer Avenue and I-240, is now home to our hardworking staff and administrative operations in addition to our new and expanded Donation Center as part of The Metamorphosis Project, our effort to end homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth under 24. We will soon be open for donations of any size, at any time, of furniture, home goods, clothing, hygiene supplies, and food. Our Administrative and Donation Center was a gifted to OUTMemphis from Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi.

 

The Youth Emergency Center, located at 2055 Southern Avenue, will open operations in January 2020. An overnight, emergency shelter for LGBTQ+ youth 18-24 and a drop-in center for anyone under the age of 24, the Y.E.C. will provide a kitchen, computer lab, laundry room, showers, food, hygiene supplies as well as case management and diversion to other as-needed providers. The shelter will be the main site for The Metamorphosis Project, which also includes Rapid Re-housing, our program providing 100% of rental assistance for one year to LGBTQ+ youth 18-24, which began in 2017. The Metamorphosis Project is made possible by the Assisi Foundation of Memphis and the Plough Foundation, as well as the Mystic Krewe of Pegasus, Friends of George’s, and Manna House.

 

Completing our trio of sites for the LGBTQ+ community of the Mid-South is our flagship Community Center, located at 892 South Cooper Street since 2003, which we aim to elevate with capital improvements in the coming year. With the investment in off-site locations for essential services, our original Community Center will now be devoted full-time to the programs and services at the core of our institution, including Trans Services, Senior Services, Youth Community Programs, Training & Education, Community OUTReach, peer-led social support groups and our rapidly expanding, multi-pronged Health and Wellness program.

 

 

Since our founding in 1989, OUTMemphis — formerly the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center — has seen many homes, including, at times, the living rooms and garages of our persistent founders. As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary, we are pleased to endeavor into this expansion of our provision of life-saving services and a new generation of “homes” for LGBTQ+ and allied Memphians.

 

To join our efforts and to sustain our impact longterm, please consider a donation to OUTMemphis today. You can find more information on the Donate page. Every donation of every size is an essential building block in our three pillars:

 

HEALTH & WELLNESS      |      YOUTH & FAMILIES      |      COMMUNITY & CULTURE