The Shade Tree was established in 1989 as Jubilee Ministries and, at the time, had little more to offer than safety, shelter, and cots in the basement of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church. In 1990, diocese members, Junior League of Las Vegas, and the City of Las Vegas collaborated to establish a permanent shelter. In December of that year, The Shade Tree opened in a building owned by Catholic Charities.

The Shade Tree is the largest shelter of its kind in the state and is the only 24-hour accessible shelter designed specifically to meet the needs of women and their children in the region. The upper floors of our 38,000 square foot facility are residential areas with singles dorm rooms, family dorm rooms rooms, classrooms, communal bathrooms, and an acute care medical clinic. The main floor has facilities to include a “Dayroom,” fully equipped kitchen, laundry room, and Children’s Activity Center. The full basement is used for storing donations and shelter supplies.