Corridor of Hope emergency shelter undergoes massive renovations

Affordable Housing

September 21, 2022

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada (CCSN) recently completed a $4.7 million renovation of its emergency night shelter. Located in Las Vegas’ aptly named Corridor of Hope, the shelter is one of the largest facilities in the Southern Nevada region, connecting individuals who are experiencing homelessness to supportive services during their stay.

“Our shelter is just one part of the process to obtaining more permanent housing solutions,” said Steve Schmitt, CCSN senior vice president and chief operating officer. “We design our operations and facilities with the understanding that this is only one stop along the way.”

We design our operations and facilities with the understanding that this is only one stop along the way.

The shelter provides 459 beds and a safe, clean place to sleep, shower and rest, as well as access to case management services to help clients gain self-sufficiency. Upon their arrival, clients receive a hygiene kit, which includes essential toiletry items and professionally laundered blankets, linens and towels.

The $4.7 million renovation includes crucial updates to the shelter bathrooms, including major plumbing upgrades, with all new fixtures, additional shower stalls and hands-free faucets and hand dryers to reduce the spread of infectious disease. The entire HVAC system was also updated to improve the airflow, for added health and safety. The sleeping areas for all 459 beds were updated as well, with new LED lighting, epoxy flooring, mattresses and refurbished beds.

Cell phone charging lockers were also added, a response to one of the biggest complaints from shelter clients, that their belongings and phones could be misplaced or stolen during their stay. The new lockable charging stations address these concerns, which can be a disincentive for visiting a shelter.

“Cell phones are lifelines for our clients,” said Marcus Valerio, senior vice president and chief administrative officer. “They provide them with access to community resources, their family and friends, employment opportunities and so much more.”

In addition to shelter services, clients may also access no-cost meals. And every night, CCSN case managers are available to help connect clients with CCSN and other programs to support their efforts towards independence, which may ultimately include permanent housing.

All of these improvements and services are critical, said Marcus, to attracting clients and helping them achieve their goals.

“Providing an environment where people experiencing homelessness feel safe and protected improves the likelihood that our case managers can connect with them.”