Find alternatives to calling the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
Typically, people call the police because they are experiencing or perceive an emergency and need immediate assistance. In order to provide the most effective alternatives to calling the police or 911, unless otherwise indicated, the resources included here are limited to those that offer immediate assistance through emergency or crisis services.
Where we know or suspect that a resource may work in cooperation with law enforcement, we acknowledge that in the listing.
Housing
- Nashville Rescue Mission*
- Mission providing emergency services in the form of food, clothing, or shelter. Separate men’s and women’s campuses.
- (615) 255-2475
- https://nashvillerescuemission.org/
- *Please note, this resource is Christian-affiliated
- Oasis Center
- Youth-focused center providing crisis intervention, emergency housing, rapid re-housing, and community outreach.
- (615) 327-4455 (24/7 crisis services)
- https://oasiscenter.org/
- Room in the Inn*
- Winter program – night shelter from November – March
- Men seeking shelter should come to our downtown campus (705 Drexel Street) and speak to a staff member for instructions. The Winter Shelter help desk opens at 3:30 pm, 7 days a week, with a staff member available to answer any questions.
- Women must attend the Women’s Draw at 11:30 am, Monday-Friday.
- (615) 251-7019
- https://www.roomintheinn.org/winter-shelter
- *Please note this resource is Christian-affiliated
LGBTQ+
- Just Us Program at Oasis Center
- Youth-focused center providing crisis intervention, emergency housing, rapid re-housing, and community outreach. Just Us is a collection of programs at Oasis Center dedicated to helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth to achieve their full potential.
- (615) 327-4455 (24/7 crisis services)
- (615) 983-6862 (General)
- http://justusoasis.org/
Mental Health
- Centerstone Mobile Health Crisis – Lawrenceburg
- Mobile crisis response and crisis telephone line – will come to you in the case of a mental health crisis
- 1 (888) 291-4357
- https://centerstone.org/locations/tennessee/facilities/centerstone-lawrenceburg-old-florence-road/
- Mental Health Cooperative*
- (615) 726-0125 (24/7 help line)
- https://www.mhc-tn.org/proven-approach/our-services/emergency-psychiatric-services/
- *Please note that this organization may work in cooperation with law enforcement.
- Tennessee Statewide Mental Health Hotline
- The Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line, available 24 hours a day/365 days a year, is a resource for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. All calls are routed to a trained crisis counselor in your area, who will provide you support and guidance, and work to connect you with appropriate community supports. This service is free.
- (855) 274-7471
- https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/need-help/crisis-services/tn-statewide-crisis-phone-line.html
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
- Nashville Sexual Assault Center
- Crisis and support line is available 24 hours a day for anyone in need of support, referrals and information for themselves or someone they know including assistance immediately following a sexual assault.
- 1 (866) 811-7473 (Crisis and support line)
- (615) 259-9055 (Nashville office)
- (931) 241-4143 (Clarksville office)
- https://www.sacenter.org/
- YWCA 24-Hour Crisis & Support Helpline
- Provides a wide range of intervention services to those experiencing domestic or partner violence, including direct intervention and emergency housing.
- 1 (800) 334-4628 or TEXT (615) 983-5170.
Youth
Please note, people answering these calls may be mandatory reporters, and required to make a report to CPS or law enforcement in certain situations. Learn about local mandatory reporter laws here.
- Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse
- 24-Hour Hotline provides a professional family advocate from the Center who is available 24 hours a day to provide crisis intervention to individuals who are at risk of child abuse or are clients who need to talk to someone.
- (800) 273-4747 (Crisis Hotline)
- Family & Children’s Services
- 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (615) 244-7444
- http://www.fcsnashville.org/
- Oasis Center
- Youth-focused center providing crisis intervention, emergency housing, rapid re-housing, and community outreach.
- (615) 327-4455 (24/7 crisis services)
- https://oasiscenter.org/
Elders
- Fifty Forward
- Supportive services including meal delivery, day programming, and care management assistance. Victory Over Crime program supports older adults who have been victimized by crime. Caring professionals help victims overcome the trauma of crimes such as neglect, financial exploitation, domestic violence, sexual assault, mail or phone fraud, burglary, and physical abuse.
- Four centers in Nashville; Knowles center and administrative office located at 174 Rains Nashville, TN 37203
- (615) 743-3400
- fiftyforward.org
Crime
Coming soon.
Substances
- Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug, & Other Addiction Services (TAADAS) Redline
- TAADAS runs 24/7 addiction treatment and recovery hotline that connects Tennessee residents with state funded, addiction treatment and recovery services.
- 1 (800) 889-9789
- https://www.taadas.org/our-programs-and-services/redline
Please consider using these alternatives to calling the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department or 911 when faced with a situation that calls for de-escalation and/or intervention.
We have tried to indicate where police or law enforcement may work with the alternative resources listed; please let us know if you have any concerns about these resources.
Reimagine public safety. Don’t call the police.