FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEVADA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT APPROVES APPLICATION FOR CAMPUS FOR HOPE
Southern Nevada’s Non-Profits, Business Community and Local and State Governments Move into Next Phase of Bringing Transformational Approach to Homelessness
LAS VEGAS– January 16, 2025—Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development announced the approval of the Campus for Hope application put forth by the business and non-profit communities of Southern Nevada. The modern approach to addressing Southern Nevada’s burgeoning homeless population is a unique collaborative effort between the private sector and state and local governments to address one of the state’s most significant social services issues.
“This is great forward progress towards bringing to life a comprehensive program for our community’s most vulnerable,” said Virginia Valentine, president and CEO of the Nevada Resort Association. “We are grateful to Governor Lombardo, Speaker Yeager, the business community, local governments and non-profits throughout Southern Nevada for their collaborative work over the last year. There is still much work to be done, but we are happy to celebrate this important milestone.”
Unlike other projects designed to address homelessness, the Campus for Hope will be an entirely new facility created to address the underlying causes of homelessness, giving clients a stronger foothold out of their current situation.
“Campus for Hope will be a beautiful modern site built on the principle that treating people with dignity creates improved outcomes,” said Aaron Sheets, CEO of Hopelink Nevada. “This will not be a shelter in any conventional sense, but rather a facility where people are able to get a variety of services to regain their footing in life.”
The comprehensive campus is being planned on a 26-acre portion of the current Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services campus at Charleston and Jones. The Campus for Hope development will remove the structures, originally built in the 1960s, on the site and create an entirely new space based on proven models, including Haven for Hope in San Antonio, Texas.“The State of Nevada thoughtfully planned the relocation of all the services currently offered on this 26-acre parcel,” said Jack Robb, chief innovation officer for the State of Nevada. “We ensured we found enhanced locations for these services in adjacent buildings. Campus for Hope is a next-generation concept for solving the underlying causes of homelessness and will help homeless people in Southern Nevada get their feet on the ground.”
“This project offers an opportunity to develop a thoughtful plan for the continuity of DHHS-provided children’s services. The Campus for Hope will significantly expand access to critical resources for those in need and complement the State’s role as a safety-net provider,” said Richard Whitley, director of Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services.
“Campus for Hope will add much-needed capacity to our overburdened social safety net for the unhoused,” said Fuilala Riley, president and CEO of HELP of Southern Nevada. “I am so pleased that the Governor’s Office of Economic Development approved the application and that the next development phase can begin. I am thankful for the leadership and tireless efforts of Speaker Yeager and Governor Lombardo for introducing and passing this legislation in the 2023 session. We are looking forward to working together.”
Details about the Campus for Hope will be released as they are available, including the organization’s leadership and construction details and other milestones. Sign up to receive updates, learn more and get involved by visiting www.nevadahope.org