Help of Southern Nevada

Mission Statement

We serve with care.  We assist families and individuals throughout Southern Nevada to overcome barriers and attain self-sufficiency through direct services, training and referral to community resources.

HELP of Southern Nevada responds to the changing needs of our growing community. We strategically expand our programs and refine our service delivery systems to better serve the poor, the homeless and those in crisis who come to us as a place of last resort. We pride ourselves on being 100% local and 100% accountable and engaging other organizations through collaboration to achieve maximum impact with the services we provide and the clients we serve.

THE SHANNON WEST HOMELESS YOUTH CENTER

The Shannon West Homeless Youth Center is a 65 bed facility named for our areas first-ever Regional Homeless Coordinator, Shannon West.  In the last twelve months we assisted 244 homeless youth.  We provided these youth with a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and clothes to wear, meeting their basic needs.  Beyond this and arguably more importantly, we offer hope and opportunity along with tools and skills development to these at-risk youth through programming, supportive services, counseling and advocacy.

Who are the youth that come to this shelter?

Let me tell you about Jason.

Jason was raised in a loving home by a dedicated mom.  Up until Jason was 15 years old, he went to school every day and was on the honor roll.  His mom fell ill, and started to experience serious medical issues that lead to her losing her job. 

The family depleted their savings, including Jason’s small college fund.  Jason’s mom became wheelchair bound. With bank accounts empty, and now homeless, they entered into a Women’s Shelter.  Jason, 18 at this point and a legal adult, was allowed to stay with his mother for a month, and then due to his age, was referred over to SWHYC.

This is where HELP of Southern Nevada stepped in.

We quickly re-enrolled Jason into school.  His attendance had become sporadic as he and his mother spiraled into homelessness.  Once at SWHYC, Jason started to attend classes daily, and with the help and guidance of staff, he enrolled in extra online classes to insure graduation. Upon graduating, Jason was enrolled in HELP’s Workforce Investment Act-Youth Program where he completed the job readiness workshop, and a paid work experience that could turn into a job offer. 

Throughout his time with us, Jason expressed a desire to be reunited with his mom.  His HELP case manager connected Jason and his mother to our Emergency Resource Services department where they entered into a housing program. 

Unfortunately, Jason isn't the only one in such a difficult position. Did you know that there are an estimated 1,867 Homeless Youth ages 16-24 living in Southern Nevada right now? And not all of them are like Jason. Many don’t have a family to reunite with.  Some have aged out of foster care.  Many have to contend with substance abuse, mental illness, the after effects of sex trafficking, illiteracy, and emotional distress.  Some have even spent time in jail.    

It’s difficult for many of us to imagine that someone so young would have nowhere to turn.  Every disconnected youth costs our community $7 million over their life time.  Without intervention, the majority of the youth become our adult homeless population.

The work we do is incredibly important - but we can't do it without the generous support of people like you. We need help from the community to meet the operational needs of our programs.

This need is especially crucial as we continue construction on the New Shannon West Homeless Youth Center at the HELP Street Campus on East Flamingo.  The new building will increase our beds to 160!  We anticipate occupancy in July 2017. We will continue operations at our existing facility in the Corridor of Hope until our new building is complete. Your gift will help us insure that we continue the services we offer.

$57 provides a night’s stay, three meals, two snacks, two life skills development sessions daily, as well as, connection to our wrap around services and intensive case management.

$399 could provide a bed and services for a week and $1,710 pays for a whole month.  You get the picture. 

Can we count on you for a day? A week? A month? One day a month for a year? Two years? Your Nevada's Big Give donation can uplift the lives of those we serve.

Schedule your Nevada's Big Give donation today; or, on March 23, give where you live. You'll be glad you did.