LAS VEGAS – Nov. 22, 2024 — As a growing number of families become homeless due to a variety of reasons, including unaffordable rent costs, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission is experiencing a rise in families seeking its ‘intact family’ services.
As the only local nonprofit organization that has a program that allows for the entire family unit to remain together, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission has experienced a notable rise in families seeking the help they desperately need. Among them are single fathers with children.
From July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission served 375 families. In the same timeframe the year prior, 341 families were helped. In the last two years alone, 1,045 children have been helped through the Intact Family program. The Las Vegas Rescue Mission also noted that families are staying longer for assistance compared to previous years. These numbers also do not include all the single mothers, fathers or families that visit the regular emergency shelter.
“We believe that no one should have to face homelessness alone, and families with children should not be separated from one another,” said Heather Engle, CEO of the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. “We are proud to offer quality solutions as individuals and families deal with unfortunate circumstances.”
With inflation and rental fees at an all-time high, it’s difficult for many families to manage everyday living costs and avoid late fees and evictions, Engle noted. This program focuses on keeping families intact by providing shelter in a safe environment where they can stay together, have job placement assistance and educational support for children, and childcare services. The program provides the tools that families need to rebuild their lives.
Aside from case management provided to the families to help them get back on track, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission also maintains a relationship with Title 1 Hope to guarantee that children are not misplaced from school and that there is not a pause in education. Title 1 Hope is a federal program that provides funding to schools and school districts with a high percentage of students experiencing poverty. The Las Vegas Rescue Mission is also community partners with The Las Vegas Urban League’s Early Childhood Connection, a program that offers a variety of childcare services for southern Nevada. Additionally, the Rescue Mission provides prevention and parenting classes, which is funded through the PACT Coalition.
“Our compassionate staff at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission works diligently to bring hope to the homeless and offer the necessary services needed to put their right foot forward again,” Engle said. “Our services have a positive impact, but we will always need to do more to help those in our community.”
About Las Vegas Rescue Mission:
The Las Vegas Rescue Mission has been assisting homeless men, women and children in the community for 50 years. Since our beginning in 1970, the Rescue Mission has been providing meals, emergency shelter, recovery programs with addiction counseling and encouragement to help the low-income and homeless in our community. The nonprofit started with a small storefront building that included the chapel, kitchen and shelter which was able to house a few men. Today, the Mission campus which is located in Downtown Las Vegas, is helping hundreds of men, women and children daily, while providing approximately 30,000 meals each month. We are nonprofit Christian organization and provide services to all people without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, gender, religion or disability.
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Media Contact:
Holly Silvestri | The Ferraro Group
holly@theferrarogroup.com | 702-340-6262
