Las Vegas Breaks Ground $200M Campus for Hope Amid Homelessness, Community Protests

Clark County, Nevada, has launched the $200 million Campus for Hope, a 26-acre transitional housing campus in Las Vegas designed to combat homelessness by providing nearly 1,000 beds alongside comprehensive services such as mental health care, addiction recovery, job training, and life skills programs. The project, funded equally by public funds and private donations largely from the gaming industry, aims to facilitate a path to self-sufficiency for the homeless population and is modeled after a similar initiative in San Antonio, Texas. Governor Joe Lombardo and other local leaders praised the facility's potential to address homelessness with significant resources, emphasizing the importance of education and awareness to overcome community resistance. Despite the official groundbreaking and support from local and state officials, the project has faced protests and a lawsuit from neighborhood residents concerned about its location, impact on the community, transparency, and long-term operational costs estimated at $30 million annually. Campus for Hope CEO Kim Jefferies stressed that the facility is a transformational campus rather than a low-barrier shelter, intended for individuals ready to work towards recovery and stability. The project is slated to open in 2027, with ongoing efforts to address community concerns and continue construction amid opposition.