Can one truly rebuild life off the streets? Is it physically possible to end poverty and homelessness? Is there still hope for those suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism? Campus for Hope in Las Vegas is certainly going to try.
On July 17, 2025, officials broke ground on the Campus for Hope in Las Vegas, Nevada. This $200 million public–private initiative in Southern Nevada is designed to provide 900 transitional beds, along with housing, recovery, and support services for people experiencing homelessness. The 20- to 26-acre site, modeled after a successful facility in San Antonio, is expected to open between 2027 and 2028. While the project has a few more years to go, it represents a unified effort to move beyond temporary fixes and offer long-term hope, healing, and restoration for those in need.
When a community chooses to invest deeply in serving its most vulnerable, how does that reflect our call as followers of Christ to love our neighbor—and how might we each join that work in our own corner of the world? What does it look like when a city truly invests in the "least of these"?
How Campus for Hope Plans to Restore Lives in Las Vegas
According to Bryan Chan, an emcee for Campus for Hope, this initiative will include 900 transitional beds, long-term housing and recovery programs, and wraparound services such as job training, healthcare, and counseling. Their goal isn't to just create a shelter, but to offer tools and resources that will encourage individuals to "rebuild a life off the streets."
Modeled after San Antonio's Haven for Hope, a transformational campus in Texas that empowers individuals and families experiencing homelessness to transform their lives, it's plausible that the Nevada campus will be just as effective. Currently reaching over 9,843 Haven clients, the location in Nevada aims to double that.
ABC 13 reports the following projected timeline for the project:
-Crews have been working on furthering the design of the project long before the groundbreaking.
-Site work was projected to start this fall, but vertical construction will not start until the summer of 2026.
-Construction should take approximately two years, making the Campus for Hope's official opening date for 2028.
As this collaboration between city officials, nonprofits, and faith-based groups continues, Kim Jefferies, CEO of Campus for Hope, reports that there's a key distinction between this campus and other homeless shelters:
"No one is just allowed to walk onto the facility," began Jefferies. "It's really for people who are able and willing and ready for that next step to resolve their homelessness." The 900 beds are thus expected to be divided between families (37%), single individuals (42% (22 per gender)), young adults (13%), those identified in the LGBTQ community (4%), and unmarried couples without children (4%). What do these implications mean for us as a nation?
What Does Matthew 25 Mean for Us Today?
In Matthew 25:35-40, Christians are called to care for the poor and marginalized. To not care for them isn't just disobedience, but a rejection of the main crux of the Gospel—to reach those who need saving. While large-scale compassion projects like these might have their flaws and differences in opinions, they should ultimately reflect the Gospel's heart for eternal hope and restoration.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. '” (Matthew 25:35-40, NIV).
Were Jesus’ words only applicable to His Disciples? What about the religious elite of His time? Maybe those in positions of authority and power? Of course not! This is a modern-day call to all Christians, too! Why? Because the posture of our hearts towards those in need matters. It always does.
Charity is good, but not when it's seen as a quick fix. Volunteering is crucial, but not when you see it as another to-do to check off your weekly list. Caring for those affected by human trafficking can save lives, but your heart in the matter can make a huge difference. Instead of seeing charity, volunteering, and compassion as "random acts of kindness," I'd challenge you to see them as daily habits we should partake in, regardless of our careers.
Christians are called to offer holistic care for those in need. Whether you're a teacher at a school or a staff writer who works in an office. It doesn't take much to offer dignity, healing, and transformation that all humans are worthy of receiving. Campus for Hope is a citywide effort for Nevada, but it mirrors what the body of Christ is called to do daily all over the world—meet the physical and spiritual needs of those who are suffering.
How You Can Serve the Homeless Today
Friends, what do you do for the least of these?. Jesus affirms this in Matthew 25:40: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (NIV). This means that we can care for those around us in both personal and communal ways.
Today, ask yourself these questions:
-How can I serve those in my family and around my community?
-How could I donate food this winter to those in need?
-What action steps do I need to take to make giving a natural habit in my everyday life?
-How does investing deeply in those most vulnerable reflect our faith?
-How can I practically live out Jesus' call to serve the poor and impoverished in my community?
Here are a few practical ideas to get you started:
-Volunteer at a local homeless shelter and support ministries that serve those in your town.
-Advocate for systemic change by writing letters to authorities and state leaders.
-Create a giveaway or donation plan to give to those in need.
-Create daily habits that keep Jesus' words in Matthew in mind.
Remember, building hope starts small with daily acts of love, service, and sacrifice. Faith in action can transform individuals and cities, and nothing is too big or small for the Lord. Your efforts matter and can and will make a difference.
A Prayer for the Hurting and Homeless
Dear Jesus,
Today, we pray for those affected by homelessness, poverty, or substance abuse. We ask that you would free them and provide for them, but also enable us to be part of that change. Use us the way you see fit, and help us to bring campuses for hope to our own cities, no matter what that looks like. We love, praise, and thank you, Lord.
Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/James Walsh
