I like Las Vegas. It’s not the lights or the glitz or 24 hour everything I like though, it’s the collection of people. Walking down the strip at almost any time of day (or night) you will over hear conversations in a variety of languages, see every manner of dress and witness interactions, not only from people from all states, but many nations as well. I really love Vegas for the variety of people.
However, one of the other things you cannot miss when walking around the city is the number of homeless people. I’m not honestly certain if there are more of them there them most places, or it just appears that way because they sleep on the catwalks along the strip in plain sight. But I know there are a lot.
Which is why I’d like to introduce the Nevada Partnership for Homeless youth (NPHY). According to their web site they are able to effect the lives of thousands of homeless youth annually via outreach, while serving hundreds more directly through their core programs. Quoting from their website:
NPHY’s programs stabilize homeless teens’ lives, meeting their immediate needs and providing a safe, supportive environment and a path to self-sufficiency.
One of the things I liked when reading about NPHY was the diversity and complexity of their program. Recognizing that homelessness is not a simple problem with simple solutions, NPHY has crafted a system consisting of more than just drop in shelters. Working through their multi-faceted program homeless youth are given the opportunity to become functional members of society.
You can find out more about NPHY and how they work: here.