Pivot, Inc.

A nonprofit organization

0% complete

$10,000 Goal

On the streets of cities and towns across the United States, many young people find themselves in a position where they are without a home and left to fend for themselves. According to studies on national characteristics of runaway children, there are nearly 1.7 million of these young people under 18 who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. Additionally, many young people do not seek help, cannot be tracked, or, worst yet, disappear.

In Oklahoma City, 15% of the "countable" homeless population is younger than 24. Nationally, 50% of adolescents aging out of foster care and the juvenile justice system will be homeless within six months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report youth experiencing homelessness have a higher risk of being in a gang, using heroin, feeling depressed, attempting suicide, or experiencing trauma and violence than their housed counterparts. For a student experiencing homelessness who the night before was rushing to get across town to get to a shelter before all the beds were full, getting to class the next day and staying awake during class would be a challenge. Often homeless youth change schools so frequently that it impacts their ability to achieve a quality education.

 We also know that the more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and trauma these youth experience in their childhood drastically increase their chances of chronic health conditions, substance use disorders, and engaging in risky behaviors. Also, homeless youth experience rape and assault rates 2 to 3 times higher than the general youth population.

Founded in 1972, Pivot is a nonprofit organization that is a force for good for youth, primarily ages 12 to 24, who have a history of trauma and face instability in their lives. Last year, Pivot served 2,008 youth. Pivot works with youth that finds themselves lacking parental support, homeless, or aging out of either the foster care or juvenile justice system. We are the only organization in the community to provide a continuum of services, on one campus, to the population we serve, without age or other constraints. Our comprehensive approach focuses on the five key domains needed for youth to be self-sufficient: basic needs & housing, education, employment, permanent connections, and health & well-being.

We develop plans for youth specifically geared to their specific situation through an individualized approach. While our priority is meeting their immediate needs, everything we do at Pivot is designed to build resiliency and skills. These skills will help all these youth to live, grow, and ultimately to be able to discover their ultimate potential and value as contributing members of the community.

The Point, our drop-in center and emergency overnight shelter opened in June 2020 to help meet the needs of homeless youth ages 16 to 24. Here youth will find safety, food, a place to shower and wash their clothes, and a medical clinic designed to assist youth with their medical and mental health needs. This allows us to meet the immediate and transitional housing needs of more youth and ultimately offer even more vital services all in one location.

This year we will also see an expansion of our tiny home community, adding 20 houses. Vital support is needed to provide all wrap-around services to the residents. We build houses, they make it a home, and together we develop and strengthen humanity through services.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Pivot, Inc.

Tax id (EIN)

73-0940217

Categories

Children & Family Humanitarian Aid

Address

201 NE 50th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Phone

405-235-7537

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