Ghafoori described these young people as lacking a parent, guardian, or other adult caring for them. "We need a bigger spotlight on this issue and quite frankly just more resources," he said. "We need dedicated statewide funding streams, public sector investments and private sector investments because there’s plenty of ideas in a room."

The summit brought together service providers, advocates, and young people with lived experience to discuss how to reach youth without stable housing and what resources are still needed. Joseph Baker, who found help at Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, attended to offer his perspective. "You just trying to get by, you know, try not to let your circumstances just overwhelm your life," Baker said. "You just kind of just keep on going." He now wants to support others facing similar challenges. "It’s like when you actually feel like, oh, people actually do care about you," he said. "So I would like to be that to other people as well."

Providers emphasized that housing instability among young people is often hidden. Kim Moore, youth services director at HELP of Southern Nevada, said some youth move between friends’ homes without knowing where they will sleep next. "That’s still unstably housed because they never know night to night where they’re going to sleep," Moore said. HELP’s Shannon West Homeless Youth Center serves about 400 young people annually and is currently at capacity, Moore said. The center offers case management, meals, housing, and support with education and employment. Needs can range from work boots or replacement identification to mental health care and assistance accessing services for developmental disabilities. "Each youth is specific and needs individualized case plans," Moore said. When the center is full, staff provide resources and try to connect young people with another provider.

Among high school students, the need extends beyond a place to sleep. Lily Noyes, executive assistant at Project 150, said more than 3,000 high school students in Southern Nevada are officially categorized as homeless. The nonprofit helps more than 6,000 students overall, including those experiencing homelessness and others facing financial hardship. Many students stay temporarily with friends or relatives, while others live in vehicles or on the streets while continuing to attend school. "They’re still going to high school. They’re still attending. They’re still giving it their all," Noyes said.

Project 150 provides free food, clothing, hygiene products, and school supplies through two Las Vegas boutiques and supports students at 75 high schools, according to Noyes. The organization tries to make accepting help discreet: supplies come in bags without logos, and family meal bags are small enough to fit inside students’ backpacks. "They don’t want to be labeled as homeless, they don’t want to be looked at differently," Noyes said. Project 150 does not provide housing but connects students with organizations that do. High school students seeking help do not need an appointment or application but must provide proof of high school enrollment.

Ghafoori noted progress in stronger collaboration among providers and more opportunities for young people with lived experience to help develop solutions, but called for additional state attention and resources to expand that work.

Young people seeking assistance can find information through Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and HELP of Southern Nevada’s Shannon West Homeless Youth Center.