Nonprofit’s solution for youth homelessness

Tiny home community

Pivot is a nonprofit established in 1972 in Oklahoma City that provides homes to young people who would otherwise be homeless. The homes are on Pivot’s campus, which also has an emergency shelter for teens ages 12 to 17, and 2 apartments for those over 17. The first month of rent is free, and then it gradually rises until reaching a cap of $150 per month. Currently, there are 3 tiny homes built, 20 more on the way by June 2021, with a plan for 85 total tiny homes. So far, the nonprofit has received $1.4 million in grants for the construction of these life-saving projects.

“[The] most exciting part? Probably a real bed because for almost a year, I'd slept on a lumpy sectional couch. So having a real bed has been really nice and being able to switch from sleeping on the side to this side or like sitting up in bed or just chilling — it's really nice. It's weird to have ownership like that. I mean, like, I never in my life thought like I’d have a coffee machine, or that I'd cook a meal in my kitchen, or that I would put stickers and pictures on my fridge with magnets,” Carter, the first resident, shares with Brut.

Homelessness in Oklahoma City

15% of those experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City are 24 or younger, as reported by the 2019 Point in Time count. Today, Pivot is a finalist for the 13th Annual Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence Awards that would win the organization $10 thousand toward their cause. Jennifer Goodrich —president, CEO, and Vice President of Programming— has been with the company since November 1999. She has worked towards programming to help support these young people through a period of time without the traditional financial and emotional support of their parents.

Brut.