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2026 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit: A Decade of Advocacy

The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) has joined forces with Las Vegas Sands to present the highly anticipated 2026 Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit. Set to take place on November 13 at the Historic Fifth Street School in Downtown Las Vegas, this event marks an important milestone, celebrating ten years of advocating for the state’s most vulnerable youth. Registration for this pivotal gathering opens on July 14 at nphy.org/summit26.

With invaluable support from the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, this year's Summit proudly carries the theme, "10 Years of Dreaming Big." The aim is to highlight the achievements made thus far while charting a robust path forward to combat youth homelessness through a comprehensive statewide movement.

Recent statistics underline the urgency of this cause; a groundbreaking study conducted in 2025 revealed that nearly 3,000 unaccompanied youths accessed homeless services in Nevada within just one year. Alarmingly, it suggested that the actual number of young individuals experiencing homelessness could exceed 33,000 annually when accounting for those falling through systemic gaps.

A Call to Action

Arash Ghafoori, CEO of NPHY, emphasized the necessity of a united approach, stating, "For the past decade, the Movement has challenged Nevada to dream big about what is possible for young people experiencing homelessness. Now it's time to dream bigger together by turning that vision into a concrete statewide action plan."

The 2026 Summit seeks to inaugurate the process for creating Nevada’s first standalone plan to eradicate youth homelessness. Focused on actionable steps, this strategic initiative aims for measurable progress within the next three to five years. Drawing on the past decade's experiences and the recent study findings, the plan will lay the groundwork for an effective state response to youth homelessness.

Collaborating with the new Movement Youth Action Board, which consists of young leaders with firsthand experiences of homelessness, NPHY will engage stakeholders across the state to finalize this vision by the end of 2027.

Achievements and Future Goals

Since the inception of the Movement at the first Summit in 2017, tangible progress has been made in addressing youth homelessness. This includes:

• - Implementing the Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness, which is guiding the development of the upcoming statewide strategy.
• - Advocating for legislative changes to enhance pathways out of homelessness for young people.
• - Improving service accessibility through refined systems-level processes.
• - Establishing youth action boards statewide to steer solutions from youth perspectives.
• - Attracting millions of dollars in funding for programs aimed at helping homeless youth.

Joining Forces for Change

Ron Reese, Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs at Sands, echoed the urgency of expanding the coalition against youth homelessness. He noted, "The Movement has delivered incredible progress and tremendous collaboration, but we still have a long way to go with statewide youth homelessness numbers in the tens of thousands annually. We call on private sector members, community organizations and citizens to join the effort by attending Summit 2026."

The summit will convene diverse stakeholders, including young people with lived experiences of homelessness, service providers, government representatives, and business leaders. Attendees can expect an enriching program that includes updates on transformative projects and a dynamic panel of innovators sharing their successful strategies for addressing youth homelessness nationwide.

A highlight of the event will be a StorySLAM session, where young leaders will share their aspirations for the future, and community leaders will provide inspiring reflections on their journeys to success.

Registration Details

To register for Summit 2026, visit nphy.org/summit26. Early registration is priced at $100 until September 25, rising to $175 thereafter. Detailed information about the agenda and speakers will begin to be available in September at the same link.

About NPHY and Sands

The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) is a leading service provider for homeless youth in Southern Nevada. It stabilizes young lives, meets their essential needs, and guides them towards self-sufficiency.

Meanwhile, Sands, a major global player in the integrated resort industry, is committed to community investment and enhancing local economies. Their efforts to combat youth homelessness reflect their dedication to corporate responsibility and making a positive impact.

Together, through events like the Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit, NPHY and Sands are paving the way for a future where every young person has a place to call home.