Las Vegas, Nevada has the highest rate of unaccompanied homeless youth rates in the nation and an unaccompanied homeless youth population that exceeds that of New York City’s, according to most recent data reported from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Shannon West is one of few youth shelters in the Las Vegas valley that provides residential housing for unaccompanied homeless youth. While battling homelessness at a young age, these teens and young adults are also facing other complex battles in conjunction with struggles that come with adolescence. They have crushes. They are trying to understand their sexuality, their gender identity. They try to find words of advice for their friends. They are survivors of assault. They are trying to find their passions. They have chores. They find their first job. They get in fights with their roommates. They are battling drug addiction. These are frames of life from Shannon West.
