Las Vegas homeless program for youths offers graduates more than a diploma

By Brian Nordli

Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Three years ago, Angelo Kelley arrived at a Las Vegas drop-in shelter with nowhere else to turn.

Everything in his life had crumbled underneath him. He had grown up being picked on and teased by his mother and siblings. They called him “retarded” for his jokes they thought were corny and didn’t understand his interests. His mother blew off housing bills and used his Social Security paychecks for other means, often leaving the family without electricity.

She kicked him out of the house when she decided to return to St. Louis, so Kelley started couch hopping. Three times he was kicked out of his siblings' homes until, at 18 years old, he faced life on the street.

Then he found himself at the doorstep of the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth shelter.

Now, three years later, he’s prepared to exit the program that took him in when he needed it most. Kelley joined eight others who have stabilized their lives and graduated from the NPHY program on Thursday.

“They saved me from being a homeless adult, boosted my self esteem, kept me off the streets and kept my head in the game,” Kelley, 21, said. “They said you could trust us.”

The NPHY program takes in individuals no matter what circumstances led them to the moment they faced homelessness. Its mission is to help them become independent and self-sufficient so they do not revert back to homelessness after they leave.

Youths are provided a condo with peers in the program, assigned a case manager and a psychologist. They are given food, clothing and other resources to fill their needs, but in return they must follow the rules set for them.

For most, that includes attending weekly life skills classes that teach them things like how to make resumes, cook and balance a budget. They typically must work toward a high school degree, find a job or apply for work, and start a savings account. Once they clear the benchmarks set for them by their case managers, they graduate from the program.

Everyone in the program takes a different amount of time to graduate. Brianna Grandberry, 18, started in May after her relationship with her mother deteriorated at home. In the last five months, she has learned to take initiative, created a savings account and is working full-time for Safe Key.

She’s started speaking to her mother again, and is applying for a job at her dream school, UNR, where she wants to study early education to be a teacher.

Grandberry’s case manager, Shawna Freimanis, has seen her take control of her life and take steps to apply for school without being pushed.

“She’s definitely gotten more responsible and takes responsibility for her actions,” Freimanis said.

Kelley reached his benchmarks in three years. He came in quiet and distrusting of adults, said his case manager, Joseph Taylor. It took weeks of questions and support from Taylor before Kelley started to open up.

Once he did, he embarked on a path of confidence and independence. He learned he was, in fact, funny. He made friends in the condo he stayed in, found work as a caretaker for the mentally disabled in a group home, and earned his driver’s license.

He is set to graduate with a degree in communication from College of Southern Nevada in the spring and plans to become a radio show host. He’s written an e-book of short stories called “No Fairy Tales Allowed,” eventually wants to produce music and write more books, maybe even one about his life.

“My plan is to be huge,” Kelley said.