Editorial: Homeless youths get break

Sunday, July 8, 2007 | 7:09 a.m.

The Center for Independent Living, a downtown Las Vegas shelter for homeless youths, had its own version of Catch-22 until this month.

Many of the youths who turn to the center for help are on the streets because their home had become dysfunctional. Every homeless child has a unique story, but certain themes recur: The parents or guardians had become abusive, addicted or often homeless themselves.

Before July 1, however, the shelter was operating under a state law that required it to get permission from a parent or guardian before it could offer more than 72 hours of shelter to a homeless youth.

In a story by reporter Timothy Pratt in Thursday's Las Vegas Sun, Kathleen Boutin, director of Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, put her finger on the Catch-22. "Kids wouldn't be homeless if they had parents who were accessible," she said.

Because of a change in state law made by the 2007 Legislature, that situation will no longer affect the Center for Independent Living. The law now stipulates that agencies extending help to homeless youths only have to make an effort to contact parents or guardians.

The Center for Independent Living, which depends on grants and donations for its existence, has been operating for 14 years and has helped more than 3,000 youths during that time. Its director, Fred Gillis, said before the law was amended that youths whose parents or guardians could not be contacted would likely be released to a government social service agency, and their chance for the specialized help offered at the center would be lost.

The center operates 60 apartments, which allow youths to escape being hardened by street life. It provides educational and vocational training and requires the youths to attend school or maintain jobs. It provides financial counseling and addresses any issues the youths are facing, such as addictions or emotional problems.

We believe the center provides an invaluable service, and that this simple change in state law will allow it to help many more youths whose situations have become desperate.