$20 million construction project will bring big changes to Las Vegas' Homeless Courtyard

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The dream is getting closer -- that's what homeless advocates say about plans to get more people off the streets and into permanent housing.

The City of Las Vegas is expected to finalize plans for a new multi-million dollar resource center this summer. Until then, nonprofits are helping to fill in the gaps.

It’s about 18 months before the city's Homeless Courtyard sees a major transformation, with the old buildings knocked down and new ones put up. For many, change can't come soon enough.

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It might take a lot of searching to find a man better suited for the job than James Brunson, the shift supervisor at the Homeless Courtyard. For him, watching over the city's Homeless Courtyard is more than a paycheck.

After living on the streets himself for five years, this is a calling.

“I had a tent right there on Foremaster for two years, James said. “Just because I have a job, and my own apartment now, I'm still with you.”

By the summer of 2021, the Courtyard is expected to look significantly different. A $20 million construction project will add three new buildings and permanent services.

The shelter portion alone will be big enough for 800 people a night -- more than double the number accommodated today.

Kathi Thomas-Gibson, the Director of Community Services for the City of Las Vegas, says it’s all about helping those who want to be helped.

“Anyone who walks across the threshold and says they're ready for help, we will figure it out how to accommodate them,” Gibson said.

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Over on Maryland Parkway, one of the city's community partners is doing its part.

Family Promise is a nonprofit that works to help families avoid homelessness. They help with job placements and temporary housing until a permanent solution is found.

Executive director Terry Lindemann says the motto here is “It's always too soon to quit.”

“I think the important facet is to remember were all in this together,” said Lindmann. “Our goal is always to have mom and dad with kids, or two moms with kids, or two dads, no separation by gender or age.”

Lindemann says while she's a big supporter of the city's Courtyard, "family promise" is also working on its own resource center, which has a target opening of December of 2021. It’s another layer of help for a problem with many root causes.

“We've got to look at mental health, we've got to look at substance use and treatment, we've got to look at living wage jobs,” said Las Vegas Director of Community Services Kathi Thomas-Gibson.

As for Brunson, he also knows it's up to the individual to put in the work and get off the streets.

“There are services here but sometimes guys feel entitled like they're entitled to everything, and it's like no, this is a courtesy, not an entitlement,” Brunson said. “You gotta think.”

The updated Courtyard will be paid for with support from the mayor's fund for Las Vegas life. Groundbreaking is set for this fall.