On November 8, the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) and Sands came together to co-present the 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit at The Smith Center for Performing Arts. This groundbreaking event, supported by the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, aimed to gather experts and stakeholders from across Nevada to develop the state’s first standalone plan to end youth homelessness.
The 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit served as a catalyst for the Movement to End Youth Homelessness in Nevada. Arash Ghafoori, CEO of NPHY, expressed his excitement about the progress made at the summit, stating, The energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge from all who participated in Summit 2023 was an incredible accelerator for the Movement to End Youth Homelessness in Nevada. We’ve reached a point in which meaningful impact can only be achieved by evolving to a statewide approach with all resources and service providers aligned.
Randy Hyzak, executive vice president and CFO at Sands, who is also an NPHY board member, acknowledged the progress made so far and emphasized the need for continued commitment, particularly from the private sector. The summit featured a series of rapid-fire presentations and a panel discussion that shed light on regional perspectives from representatives in northern, southern, and rural Nevada, as well as tribal communities.
During these presentations and discussions, several crucial points were raised. It was highlighted that there is currently no state-level funding specifically allocated for youth homelessness in Nevada. There is a pressing need for more housing and supportive services, particularly in the realm of mental health, to provide youth experiencing homelessness with the resources necessary for recovery and a brighter future.
The statistics surrounding youth homelessness in Nevada are alarming. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, approximately 12% of youth experiencing homelessness nationwide in 2022 were residing in Nevada. Furthermore, the state is facing an estimated shortage of over 80,000 affordable rental units for extremely low-income tenants, as reported by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
At the summit, the stories behind these numbers came to life through powerful presentations by young leaders who had personally experienced homelessness. These individuals shared their emotional journeys using artfully decorated chairs that symbolized the obstacles they faced, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future. Keynote speaker Jimmy Santiago Baca, author of A Place to Stand and a former homeless youth, captivated the audience with his personal anecdotes, showcasing the power of self-expression in overcoming trauma.
In the afternoon, breakout sessions focused on developing a statewide plan to end youth homelessness. Topics included direct cash transfers for youth, the intersectionality between childhood trauma, sex trafficking, and homelessness, a comprehensive study on youth homelessness serving as a statewide needs assessment, and the concept of restful leadership.
Addressing youth homelessness is a central focus of the Sands Cares community engagement program in Las Vegas. Over the past decade, Sands has collaborated with NPHY, contributing over $2.3 million to provide immediate relief, lasting solutions, and advocacy for youth experiencing homelessness since 2014.
Randy Hyzak expressed his enthusiasm about the summit’s outcomes, saying, Today marked a major milestone in the Movement to End Youth Homelessness. We now have a united coalition of statewide leaders, ready to take measured and decisive action to help our most vulnerable youth. The stories we heard from the young leaders who have gone through these experiences underscore the critical work we must do and undoubtedly have motivated and inspired all who attended the Summit.
For more information on Sands’ efforts to combat youth homelessness and its broader focus on hardship relief in communities worldwide, you can refer to the company’s latest environmental, social, and governance report.
The 2023 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit, hosted by the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and Sands, brought together experts and stakeholders from various backgrounds to address the urgent issue of youth homelessness in the state. With an emphasis on developing a statewide plan, the summit marked a significant turning point in the movement to end youth homelessness in Nevada.
###
