Nevada Youth Empowerment Project

Through it's comprehensive, coordinated residential life curriculum, NYEP aims to empower young women to finish high school, get living wage jobs, and make homes of their own.

We have many youths whose potential is not being fully realized – our failure to harness that potential is an opportunity missed. These youths represent not only a social opportunity, but also an economic one. A non-contributing youth imposes taxpayer burden of $13,900 per year. A non-contributing youth imposes social burden of $37,450 per year. Once they reach 25, they impose a future lifetime taxpayer burden of $170,740. Once they reach 25, they impose a future lifetime a social burden of $529,030. The CLP is both effective by being needs driven, focused on a specific target population, providing what’s needed AND efficient by saving the community money in anticipated social and economic loss. The CLP costs $20k/youth/year, the same cost as jail.

The CLP serves young women who are exceptionally damaged, undereducated, under resourced, disadvantaged, unsupported and unprepared. Each has express a deep desire to be happy and productive, and for the time being, are willing to do the work it takes to earn and achieve things, and make the most of the opportunities that come their way. They are usually receiving services from other local agencies, but the supports just haven’t been enough to be effective for them, or they are no longer eligible. They recognize they need more help, they want it, and they are asking for it. They are desperate for a home, to feel cared about, to finish school, get a job and live on their own.

NYEP provides its CLP (standardized, all-inclusive, housing-based independent living curriculum) in our large 8 bedroom home, to at least 15 at risk older female youth residents, at a time, for at least one year. Safe housing, utilities, other basic supports, complex supports, mentoring, parental supports and skills training will be provided and/or facilitated by highly skilled CLP staff who also monitor and record resident progress and regress to hold youth accountable as they learn to be established young adults.

NYEP’s CLP empowers young people to gain self-confidence, personal independence and personal growth. Within the CLP, staff teaches participants how to meet expectations and needs through being pushed daily to meet obligations and responsibilities.

We know how to motivate youth to outcomes.

Fifteen years ago, the playing ground between a homeless and parentless child and a housed and parented child would be remedied with a pair of shoes or a backpack with school supplies. But, if the most basic needs are not being met, we know now that you can be fairly sure that emotional, physical, and spiritual needs are not being met, as well. Many of the youth hanging out on the streets of Reno have a place to sleep at night. What they don’t have are responsible, caring adults who provide consistent parental support and accountability to their children until they are prepared to live as an independent, contributing citizen. Without caring adult attention, any resources and services provided to youth are uncoordinated, insufficient and unaccountable, leading to false starts or failures.

And, if we want these kids to be successful, we’ve got to give them what we’d give any kid who is successful. Understanding who a program can serve effectively is the first step. NYEP breaks opportunity youth in unstable housing into 3 service/support categories – 1. Willing and ready to work, 2. Willing but not ready to work and 3. Unwilling so not ready to work. NYEP’s CLP curriculum works best with young women between 18-24 year olds who would otherwise be homeless but are willing and capable of making the most of the opportunities that come their way (categories 1 & 2). Category 3 youth need very specialized programming around specific barriers/challenges like mental illness, substance abuse, pregnant/parenting, criminal behaviors and gender and sexual identity.

If left with only occasional memos, verbal/written threats, pointing to rules, and meetings, young people are continuing to rely on their own systems of change on a daily basis which isn’t sufficient to facilitate desired youth outcomes. Children who have been raised by addiction-prioritizing, childish/immature, criminal, uneducated, and/or homeless/transient parents result in a further disadvantaged young person. By the time they reach NYEP, it’s not just housing and food they need; they need love and care. They feel alone, rejected, and that they don’t belong in the world. Because the needs are many and root causes are complicated, staff are mature, professional, and skilled in connecting with and motivating young people. These young people have plenty of friends. They are in desperate need of solid adults who can consistently help them appropriately address their problems in life.

During the 2019-2020 year, NYEP’s CLP served 19 older female youth.

88% of all youth served by the CLP successfully met high school proficiency requirements. 63% of all youth served by the CLP were also able to hold employment. 50% went on to college. 100% of the CLP graduates secured independent affordable housing upon program completion.

And, resident provided over 955 hours of community service.

NYEP’s affordable housing scattered site model, Sonder House, continues to be the solution to the transitioning CLP resident’s need for housing in this ever changing economy, especially with a less than 1% vacancy rate. Rent is $400/month and includes all utilities. To date, 18 CLP graduates have used the site. 100% of the young women served by this site are employed and/or in school or volunteering, maintaining a productive 40-hour week.