Las Vegas Rescue Mission

Catholic Charities opens new dining pavilion in time for Thanksgiving meals and to provide shelter from cold weather

On Thursday at 10 a.m., Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada will open the gate to its brand new dining pavilion and welcome hundreds of Nevada’s homeless people to check their belongings for safekeeping, wash their hands, and sit down to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

Clark County considers repealing 'archaic' vagrancy law to comply with 9th Circuit ruling

Shortly after misdemeanor penalties for violating the Las Vegas City Council’s encampment ordinance went into effect on Feb. 1, Clark County commissioners are considering taking vagrancy laws “off the books.” The district attorney’s office determined that the county’s vagrancy laws are “already covered” by state statute.

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Volunteer interviews man for homeless census

Point-in-Time Count volunteers hit the streets before dawn, seek answers to better understand homelessness

The Point-in-Time Count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) every two years, to count the number of people experiencing homelessness who are unsheltered, in emergency shelters, or in transitional or supportive housing to determine funding for that locality. The count is conducted on a single night to avoid duplicate counts. In Southern Nevada more than 5,500 homeless people were counted in the 2019 count.

Protesters with signs at city council meeting

Mayor's speech defends Las Vegas ordinances targeted at homelessness as protests, preparations continue

As a crowd protested outside of Las Vegas City Hall on Thursday, Mayor Carolyn Goodman defended the city’s efforts to end homelessness, describing them as “humanitarian and compassionate” and pushing back against critics of an ordinance that makes it illegal to sit or lie down in public rights-of-way. Criminal penalties for the ordinance are scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 1.

Kenya Obote wearing a light jacket, gold necklaces and a black scarf on her head

Las Vegas homeless navigate their quest for a resting spot amid new ordinance that limits legal options

As daylight turned to dusk late Wednesday afternoon, the question that dictates daily life for many of the city’s less fortunate residents became more urgent. Where would they sleep? Soon the decision could carry legal implications.

Southern Nevada homelessness board begins to regroup after passage of Las Vegas ordinance

Board Co-Chair Kathi Thomas-Gibson, who is the director of the Office of Community Services for the City of Las Vegas and responsible for providing homeless services, fielded pointed questions from her peers for an ordinance passed by the City Council.

The harsh reality of living on the streets

After hearing the proposed new homeless ordinance, I was feeling every emotion in the book. Happy that I’m off the streets; sad for the friends I know are still homeless; upset at the City of Las Vegas for proposing a measure that will not fix the homelessness problem.

The Nevada Independent