LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Roughly 550 younger individuals are homeless every night time in southern Nevada, and the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) is working to supply them with important providers and assist.
NPHY operates a drop-in facility on the south finish of UNLV, which serves because the hub for its operations. Greater than 15,000 younger individuals go to this location yearly to entry showers, hygiene choices, case administration, remedy, and numerous leisure and academic assets.
“Stop in take a shower, access hygiene options, meet with a case manager, meet with a therapist, computer lab, basketball court, art music therapy room,” stated Arash Ghafoori, CEO of NPHY.
Arash Ghafoori, the CEO of NPHY, highlighted the rising challenges confronted by younger individuals resulting from inexpensive housing points and entry-level employment difficulties. These pressures have led to extra youth being homeless within the space.
In 2024, the variety of youth residing on the streets in southern Nevada was about 550, and this quantity has been rising by 20-25% within the valley over the previous yr.
Constructing belief with adults is a big problem for these younger individuals, as they typically have been let down by adults of their lives. NPHY focuses on assembly their speedy wants, equivalent to meals, clothes, and hygiene gadgets, by group donations.
As soon as primary wants are met, NPHY goals to affect the way forward for these younger individuals by offering packages associated to training, housing, and workforce preparation.
Ghafoori emphasised the dearth of state assets to fight youth homelessness successfully. Nonetheless, NPHY strives to create a security internet to forestall younger individuals from turning to the streets or remaining there for lengthy.
The company serves youth as younger as 12 and as much as age 24, relying closely on group assist to satisfy its mission.
“What we need in our community is more advocates,” Ghafoori stated. “People who understand that youth homelessness is a significant issue here. Everyone can contribute, whether it’s by donating time, skills, or connections, to help end youth homelessness.”
By means of its complete packages and group assist, NPHY goals to equip younger individuals experiencing homelessness with the instruments they want for a profitable and unbiased future.
All details on this report have been gathered by journalists employed by KLAS. Synthetic intelligence instruments have been used to reformat from a broadcast script right into a information article for our web site. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLAS workers earlier than being revealed.
