NV Energy officials and employees joined Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth representatives to announce a new partnership to help youth in crisis and to donate a truck, toiletries and canned goods, and $20,000, the latter through the NV Energy Foundation. The announcement was made at NV Energy’s Ryan Operations Center.
“We’re pleased to expand our relationship with Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth on multiple levels and to be able to help more of these vulnerable kids,” said Frank Gonzales, NV Energy Vice President, Electric Delivery. “NV Energy’s role in the community goes far beyond keeping the lights on – and we hope our support of this organization will help make a meaningful difference in the community.”
The gently used, well-maintained Chevrolet Colorado is being retired from the NV Energy fleet for a new mission transporting NPHY youth clients, primarily Independent Living Program clients. These transports include trips to the DMV, UNLV, educational field trips and other activities, and to the NPHY Drop-In Center at 4981 Shirley St. near UNLV, the hub for many services encompassing intake processing, tutoring, counseling, extracurricular classes, life skills, legal services, recreational activities, and more.
The donated truck comes “fully loaded.” During the past few weeks, NV Energy employees have embarked on a “fill-the-truck” drive to stuff the truck with needed items for homeless kids.
Through the NV Energy Foundation, the $20,000 donation will be applied to direct service costs resulting from more homeless youth accessing NPHY with the expanded Drop-In Center hours and additional emergency shelter beds. Needs include additional food, clothing, hygiene items, bus passes, fees for identification documents, school fees, and other direct service resources.
“We’re extremely grateful for the generosity of NV Energy, NV Energy Foundation and NV Energy employees, and for their recognition of our needs and the different ways they are helping us help kids in crisis,” said Arash Ghafoori, executive director of NPHY. “We simply couldn’t provide the comprehensive programming and 24-7 assistance we provide without their support.”
Clark County/Las Vegas was ranked No. 3 in the nation for prevalence of homeless youth, and Nevada was ranked No. 1 in the nation for rate of homeless youth living unsheltered on our streets, according to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s 2016 Annual Homeless Assessment Report. During the 2015-2016 school year, there were more than 14,000 homeless students enrolled in Clark County schools. In 2016, there were more than 1,500 unaccompanied homeless children and youth living on the streets or in homeless shelters on an average night in Southern Nevada.
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth is the most comprehensive service provider for homeless youth in Southern Nevada, serving hundreds of youth through its core programs and by touching the lives of thousands more through outreach each year. Programs stabilize homeless teens’ lives, meeting their immediate needs and providing a safe, supportive environment and a path to self-sufficiency. They include: Outreach, Safe Place Mobile Crisis Intervention, Operation Go Home Family Reunification, Drop-In Center, Emergency Shelter, and Independent Living Program. For information and to support NPHY’s critical work to get homeless youth off the streets, visit www.nphy.org or follow NPHY on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nevadapartnershipforhomelessyouth.
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