Eighteen-year-old Vernita used to worry about using too much electricity in the Las Vegas garage she was calling home. This was her reality since the LGBTQIA youth was kicked out of her home. 

At 6:34pm, Gay Vegas saw a message of distress on Facebook: “Does anyone have a wall unit A/C they can donate for an lgbtq youth who is living in a garage without air? If so, please contact me or The Center.” That shocking message came courtesy of Holly Reese, program manager at The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada.

By 10am the next day, at a local hardware store, Gay Vegas met with the woman who had sent the original request to The Center. Doreen Guerra is a case manager with WIOA Youth One Stop Affiliate East and the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority. 

Gay Vegas purchased the exact cooling system requested by Doreen to meet Vernita’s specific needs. That same morning, the Southern Nevada Health District  reached out to offer additional assistance.

Gay Vegas started a Go Fund Me campaign and we were deeply moved by the showing of love from our LGBTQIA community in response to the Vernita Matters fund page, gofundme.com/vernitamatters.

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In merely hours we reached our $1,000 goal for Vernita and our inbox was full of support and love. Many community members and organizations offered employment, clothing, food, financial assistance and even offered to share their homes with Vernita.

A HUGE Thank You to Gay Vegas magazine reader Ricky Lomeli who, along with her partner, provided Vernita with immediate employment.

A special Thank You to the following individuals & organizations; Guy Puglisi, Mya Reyes, Ronald-Neal Nolan, Dr. Jerry Judd Pryde Jr. MD, MPH, Angell Scott, Marcus Wilson, Zachary Joseph, Linda Washington, Anthony D, Maria Garcia, Ryan Nelson, Lisa Miller, Christopher Lambert, Erin Sharpe, John Klai, Grace Olivieri, Ryan Reynolds, Su Walton, Thalia Siqueiros, Tanya Goodgame, Danelle Kitching, Elias Guerra, Linda Carducci, Susan Myers, Kristie L, Michael Reynolds, Isabel Elliot, Jess Session, Meli Pulido, Jessica Lee, Mecca M. Brown, Life Coach, Steven Hughes, Latasha White, Carly Gagnon, Robinette Nacca, Niasimone Thomas, Colleen Rague, Erin Hamilton, Southern Nevada Health District, Good Carma - Auto Sales and Service, Project 150 and Goettl Air Conditioning.

Email from Doreen Guerra (Youth One-Stop Affiliate East- YOSA): 

Vernita came by to see me yesterday, she is doing great! She moved out of the garage and gained new employment – she has also reconnected with her mother. She looked great too, she gained 10 lbs. and is now weighing 100 lbs. Your help did so much more for her than just help her out financially, you gave her hope and that is priceless. Please see attached note she wrote to thank you.

In America, up to 1.6 million youth experience homelessness each year. The statistics for LGBT homeless youth are staggering: they represent 40 percent of all homeless youth.