The Shade Tree

I have been volunteering at The Shade Tree for 2 years now. For about 6 months now, I’ve been helping out in the Children’s Activity Center. All I can say is this place is amazing! The love, compassion, kindness, commitment is beyond anything I’ve seen as everyone serving here has beautiful hearts only interested in making the lives of these precious moms and their children better. Providing a safe environment for them to heal, get the care they need, creating stability, helping them get jobs, homes so they can hopefully move on to a better life. This is a great place to volunteer and donate as many here come with the clothes on their backs. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve here! This is a safe place if you need assistance!

Damn. To think I was going to make a huge donation to this organization until I read the reviews. I’m not homeless or seeking help. I was doing research on where I can directly support an organization that help people in need. I cleared my beautiful home recently and I decided to donate most of my furnitures, household items, and so much more….until I read the reviews. I can’t imagine being in a such vulnerable position to seek help and the ones you’re supposed to trust are the people who make it worst. If you’re an employee here, why bother clocking in to hate your job and their purpose. May karma hit you 10x worst than how you treat people. I’ll be doing more research and praying I find an organization that actually cares and shows some compassion.

It’s never easy to say goodbye to someone who has made such a meaningful impact. Today, we say farewell to Deonte, a truly great employee whose kindness, dedication, and positive spirit have touched everyone here at The Shade Tree Shelter. Your compassion for others and the way you made people smile each day will never be forgotten. You brought light and laughter into every room, and your presence made a difference in the lives of so many. Though we’re sad to see you go, we are excited for the blessings that await you. Keep shining your light wherever you go, Deonte — God will surely continue to bless you on your journey. Keep Going It will never be another Deonte here

So 2 years ago, my son and I almost became homeless... But I had heard some good things about shade tree and I needed somewhere for us to go that DIDN'T kick u out during the day (like the Rescue Mission) ... So I heard about Shade tree. I called them on 4 separate occasions (2 years ago) and of course they didn't have ANY availability for us. Unfortunately, right now we are currently dealing with homelessness .. So I tried calling Shade tree AGAIN for the 2nd time (because I called them about 3 in a half weeks ago) HOPING they would have availability for us.. But of COURSE, they STILL don't have ANY availability! They just keep giving me the numbers for the Rescue Mission and the salvation army. Like, that does NOT help me! I have a 4 year old son! Like, I CAN'T b having them kicking us out during the day! If it was JUST me, by myself, I wouldn't care about getting kicked out during the day.. But I've got my son with me and can't b having them kicking us out during the day and we have to figure out where to go. Shade tree NEVER EVER EVER has ANY availability! Shit is FRUSTRATING!

I wanna say I stayed at the shade tree for the 90 day program and the staff there are amazing they gave me hope for better days to come because of the shade tree and their support and help I was able to graduate and earn my certificate for the state anger management program courses I wanna give a big thank you to the staff of the shade tree for giving the guidance and hope to a better path Sincerely your favorite King🙏🏾

I was at shade tree 6 years ago and I want to thank staff because the new employees are awesome,, even though shade tree could not meet my needs because I can't have my special needs 20 year old by his self! Because he is a male ! I still say this is a good place to go for homeless, and Domestic violence women and children helping their community

I just want to share how grateful I am for the security supervisor at The Shade Tree. I asked for directions to the Rescue Mission, and one young man went above and beyond to make sure I felt safe and cared for. His name is Deontae, and I truly appreciate the way he took the time to guide me even though he wasn’t driving with me. He also gave me a hygiene pack, which meant so much. his kindness and professionalism made me feel supported. Thank you, Deontae, and thank you Shade Tree for giving back to the community in such a meaningful way.

I came here with my 3 children and they kicked me out after another mentally ill client Tara threatened me and my children's lives! They our us out on the streets for no reason my babies were crying and so scared of the other mom trying to attack me and staff did nothing to protect us.the walls in the children's bedrooms have sharp metal sticking out and cut my son he was screaming and rooms are filthy .you have to begg for hygiene and clothes if you have non and staff treats you like trash especially Tyra and Nikkie.This place is like jail and judge you and quick to out babies back on the streets and there moms back with there abuser.horrible.

I have an infinite amount of love for The Shade Tree, but I would like to address Angie Turner, who not only victimized my very vulnerable friend someone who was seeking shelter and refuge after finally gathering the courage to leave a physically abusive relationship. Angie, you not only spoke to her like a dog, but you also blamed her for being in the situation she was in, telling her that she "got herself into it." You went as far as to say she needed to get her "bread" (money) up because The Shade Tree is a working program and offers no handouts. My friend was never looking for a handout. She was looking for a safe space to lay her head for herself and her daughter. Instead, you berated her in the lobby, in front of her child, to the point that she left in tears and was forced to return to her abuser because she had nowhere else to go. Angie, not only do you need to show more empathy especially working at a domestic violence and human trafficking shelter but you also need to undergo trauma-informed training. The way you handled my friend was unprofessional, unacceptable, and deeply upsetting!

Heartfelt Thanks and Appreciation Dear Shade Tree Team, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible support you've provided to my niece. Thanks to your services, she has successfully left a toxic situation and now has a safe, stable place of her own because of the shade tree. I also want to give special recognition to Officer Deontae and Ms. Tory. Officer Deontae, your professionalism and the way you communicated with me made me feel completely comfortable when dropping my niece off. Your kindness and the right information helped me feel secure in this transition. Ms. Tory, your warmth and reassurance were just as appreciated. You both made a potentially stressful situation much easier to navigate, and I can't thank you enough. Please keep being positive with that attitude we all appreciate it and we need more people like you guys in the world. Thank you to everyone at The Shade Tree for being a beacon of hope and support for those who need it most. Your efforts are truly changing lives, and we are forever grateful. Who ever owns this place please keep up the good work you have trained your team awesome - BJ Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" Psalm 30:5

I was going through a terrible time and they were horrible and rude to me and then hung up on me! So basically I called seeking help from an abusive narcissist to speak to ones that work at a shelter! Talk about a contradiction. There was no compassion or empathy. They should be fired. It was around 8 pm on January 9th.

Don't put out a call to the community to support you with items for the kids to give their moms on Mother's Day, and then completely ignore people who try to help. If I had read their reviews prior to making purchases I wouldn't have bothered. Now I have to return $100+ worth of stuff. I contacted them 3 times in 2 different ways only to be ignored. I will never support this facility again.

This review is for Noah's Animal House since they do not have a yelp that I could find. I donated my pet's beds, leash, quilts and blankets I no longer needed, some throw pillows as they ha "cuddle room". They take donations 7 days a week 8am-noon and 1-4pm. Entrance is on Owens, 2nd gate right past the Shade Tree entrance. Just honk when you get to the gate and they will open it. Picture of the pup in the cuddle room with my donated bed. These doggies and their owners are very appreciative for the comfy blankets and beds donated. Info pulled off their website: Noah's Animal House in Las Vegas is a full-service boarding facility on the grounds of the largest women & children's shelter in Nevada. It was built in 2007 as our flagship operation after recognizing how many other arrivals at The Shade Tree Shelter were desperately seeking the same safety and protection for their pets. After operating for over a decade, we have cared and protected over 1,600 pets for more than 100,000 boarding nights for the women and children at The Shade Tree. What we now know is that women won't leave their pets behind to be abused as payback and with Noah's Animal House, they no longer have to make that choice.

Coming here after certain circumstances I was scared and nervous but honestly it's not bad they provide everything for you and also your kids if you have kids, I didn't realize what a great support system I had got but the staff is very welcoming and comforting to me and my kids, we had got covid not from here, they helped us in many ways family wouldn't, I am so grateful for everything they do for us even when we get a pair of socks everything counts, all you have to do is your part your chores, look for a job take, care of your kids, it's basically a stepping stone to help you get on your feet and sometimes people need that pressure to get on their feet, I made some friends I love i love and appreciate the staff it may be rules but it's worth it...

Avoid this place if you can! I was in a dv situation so was left with no choice but two years later I still think about how awful I was treated. The bad reviews are not wrong!

My Mother could have used this Organization. Give what you can but please remember they will not take any donations on Sunday.

after a half hour assessment answering questions, i was informed they were full. they could have told me that to begin with. they claim to help dv victims....completely useless.

I heard about this womens's shelter and they also have some young boys up to 18 here. I wanted to donate brand new or gently used clothing and my shoes. I would much rather donate knowing it goes to them and not sold. In the future I will donate here instead of salvation army.

Terrible place to work or have to stay The clients never see most of the donations and the food is second class

I thought maybe it was worth bringing 8 huge trash bags full of children clothes and shoes in perfect condition instead of good will..turns out I think I made a mistake. I was hoping to have met with someone while giving my donations in a Sunday mid morning. I unloaded everything myself into a curb in the donation center. Children came by, at least 5 of them of all ages boys and girl. My heart sunk to the floor..they all eager to ask me questions and tell me how they don't really recieve any clothes. They are having to ask for them instead, which is understandable since they don't know who has what. But maybe there should be a standard to walk ins. Like everyone gets two outfits and a pair of shoes if Available. Bette yet they need to do better with advertising, it would help out their community a whole lot more. I would love to volunteer once I have enough time to dedicate. Talking to the children had me at hello. If you want to donate, I would suggest possibly finding a way that they physically get handed out of its any of your concern.

Shade Tree is a great local organization- I've been to several of their various community events and presentations through my work with children, and have heard directly from families I work with about how helpful they've been. I went by their facilities recently to drop off a carload of donations. A friend and I have been collecting women's clothes and accessories through our friend group for the past few months and finally got enough to load up the SUV. The staff at drop off were helpful and energetically helped us unload, thanked us, and provided a tax receipt. What I like most about Shade Tree over other organizations is that the items you donate go directly to women in the community rather than being sold (ie Goodwill).

Unfortunately no one is ever there to answer the phone or returns any calls. When I drove there to drop off items, I was stopped by the security guard just to be informed that I needed to make an appt to drop off donations. Explained that no one answered the phone or returns calls. Luckily, he was very nice and allowed me to drop off my donations anyways after speaking to "someone" because I told him I would not return and donate to another organization if that was the case. Not a very well run organization. I can only hope the items donated were distributed to the proper people and put to good use

This is a place for growth This is a place for healing This is a place that changes lives.

They are unprofessional, abusive and exploitative. Pam Neal was verbally and emotionally abusive to me to the point that I went back to the abusive situation and then lived out of my car rather than be there. The evening staff with the exception of Nacia are wholly incompetent and uncaring. I reported this and the fact the the supervisor, Pam Neal, violated my confidentiality by asking me my disabilities in front of everyone in the cafeteria just to dismiss their validity and berate me for taking the elevator instead of the stairs. A rule that she knew I was not informed of. The Director, Isaiah Kelley, backed up this abuse in defense of her. It makes me think that they routinely degrade the already traumatized women and children. Otherwise, wouldn't it be investigated? In summation, I wouldn't suggest a dying rodent take refuge here. The Shady Tree is THE WORST place to seek help and safety.

Their website is full of lies. They turned away a disabled 56 year old woman in desperate need of shelter saying that "she doesn't fit the program requirements." Website clearly says they accept all women and children experiencing homeless OR violence. She also brought her domestic violence police report. Still denied. Good luck getting shelter in Las Vegas

This is a good woman's shelter If you ever need help these people will help you They help you feel safe and secure in any situation your in Even in bad times they understand They have good programs to help you get your life back on track I recommend this place to all women and there children who need that extra help

I've been calling them for a solid week everyday with no answer. So I've left messages everyday trying to make an appointment to DONATE! No call back from anyone. So, I make the long drive from mountains edge to their facility with a trunk full of clothes and shoes for women and girls and the supervisor Leticia refused to take it. She said it's by appointment only but no one is answering or calling me back. This is crazy! It doesn't make any kind of sense. Everyone I saw here are just standing around talking. Like what? I'm trying to give you clothes and shoes for the families here. I'm right here. How lazy. It would honestly only take maybe 5 minutes. Very very disappointed. Oh well. So much for trying to help out our community.

Well, I wouldn't really call this a review, but 'Simply' a statement to say.. that this is a donation center and the ladies that stay here really need and deserve lots of goodies like, gently used clothes, shoes, purses, new cosmetics and just everyday personal grooming items. They also accept fresh food and groceries. Not only did I donate lots of beautiful clothes, shoes and purses(some designer with the tags too), but a sexy Sony stereo with CD/Ipod/Iphone connection and over 300 really cool CD's and lots of books. Im sure they need to listen to a bit of music to lighten their day and or read a really nice book to relax. So, look through your closets and see what you dont wear anymore, and believe me, they will appreciate(newer clothing and shoes are best, as it helps them feel beautiful and confident). The two security guards who helped both days with my donations were super friendly and very professional. They will also give you a tax donation receipt for the value(not necessary, but was nice that they offered this) Feels good to give...I hope it has helped.

This review was a result of volunteering for a month through my nursing school: To preface, it is important to point out that Shade Tree is a PROGRAM, not a SHELTER. A program will (attempt) to rehabilitate it's clients by instilling skills to go get and MAINTAIN a job and housing, whereas a SHELTER just provides room and meals (with no rehabilitation actions). The second thing I want to highlight is that Shade Tree runs almost solely off of donations/volunteers. The last thing I want to bring up is that Shade Tree is one of the only places that has an animal shelter (since many times pets are used as a bargaining chip for women in abusive relationships.) Like any volunteer/donation based center, Shade Tree case workers and Client Advocates are over-worked and over-stretched which unfortunately leads to the clients not getting much personal one-on-one attention unless they aren't following the rules. There are various Job Skills and Life-Skills classes (AA, NA, Housing, Depression, Domestic Violence Survivors, Empowerment, Attitudes, Affirmations, Science, etc) throughout the day for the ladies to attend (which they need at least 3 a week if I'm not mistaken). The Ladies are all assigned chores, which means they are the ones keeping the place clean. Honestly, Shade Tree is a fairly well oiled machine that keeps on going despite (sometimes MAJOR) speedbumps along the way, but it is BECAUSE of the staffs creativity with the given resources, volunteers and donations! Of course there are things that could be done better and resources that Shade Tree lacks that are desperately needed (mental health care ONSITE for one). If you're interested in donating items, check out their website for their wishlist (or just donate what you want!)..if you want to volunteer, call up their volunteer coordinator and set up an appt TODAY! You can give as little as one hour a week and make a difference. Most of the Ladies are extremely appreciative!

This is interesting... I am surprised that reviewing a shelter is an option. I spent some time at this shelter few years ago. I had just left an abusive relationship. I would have gone to a weekly hotel but was scared for my safety as "the mistake of my late teens" monitored my credit card use. I was dropped off at the shelter by a church volunteer. I had to wait outside for an hour alone as the "day shelter" was not doing intakes yet. Scared to death I waited outside. I went in an hour later and did the intake take process with a friendly employee. I was told that yes I could stay, which I did until my ex was picked up and and removed from my home several days later. I received a safe place to stay, light counseling, legal assistance, three meals a day, shower, access to clothes and access to other women in my situation. Women. If you need to go there GO. It is incredibly scary to give up what you have and what you know to go to a shelter but you will be supported. Most things are replaceable, your life isn't.

Unable to get ahold of anyone there to volunteer or talk about an internship. If things are that far behind that no one can ever answer the phone then maybe look into bringing in some of the people who are trying to volunteer. I filled out the application online and over a month later received a "sorry were backed up" response. You literally have people trying to help you. Accept the help and let people answer emails and phone calls!!! How many people in need are looking elsewhere because they can't talk to someone?

Thank you for your review -- my father just passed on, and I was looking for a charity in the area that is doing good work and that really needs the help. Shade Tree spent more last year than they took in, and can REALLY use the help. Most of their income goes straight out into programs, and they provide shelter for women and children and PETS and the elderly (including men). They are very full and they need clothes and dog food and all kinds of things (like dishes and cookware and small appliances -- not furniture, though, send that to the Rescue Mission, which has a thrift shop), just check their Wish List on their website, theshadetree.org, or call and ask what they need most this month. Since he was a union member, the union will donate to a charity of my choosing in his name, and so will his friends and union brothers and sisters as they are inclined. This is a good way of making a tragedy into a life-giving and life-affirming positive change, and in an organization with low executive salaries (less than 80K, which is like HALF of what even the reasonable charities in Vegas are paying their directors -- let alone the few bloated giants that pay $300K!) and a great need. I was glad to find them, and your review was the reason.

I knew from the first day I walked into this establishment from the street in desperate need of shelter after leaving a domestic violence situation, I would not be granted the help I needed. I was mistreated, spoken down to and denied use of their telephone. They stated they had no room for me. Then as I proceeded to walk out in tears, an angel appeared out of nowhere and guided me to an area where she actually spoke to me with compassion and concern. She stated that she had witnessed several accounts of maltreatment against potential clients during her tenure there and proceeded to ask me who I was, what I needed, what I wanted to accomplish and quickly gave me exactly what I needed to make my way off the streets of Las Vegas and into my own apartment. When everyone else turned their backs on me, denied me food and pushed me out the doors at Shade Tree, she fed me, clothed me and provided me with a 30-day RTC bus ticket to get to my new job. I am so grateful for her. Of course, she is no longer employed there but I had spoken to her after she took another service position where she is loved and appreciated for her dedication to service work. She is still the beautiful lady I remember from before with a glad heart bursting with compassion and she continues to care about those in need. I will see her again. Later, I met another lady who stated that she had worked there for a very long time and was fired for "Caring too much". I know this happens a lot especially when a NPO has dark insider secrets they don't want anyone to know about. I suspect it happened when the new director came on board and cleared out the ones who had no loyalty to her. Or maybe, it was the stacks of disorganized paperwork that cluttered her desk in the darkened hallways. Ominous and very telling. Misappropriation of charitable donations I'm feeling. Miscellaneous expenditures is what they'll most likely be recorded as. And the waste! My goodness, if you aren't going to use them or give them away, certainly don't hide the Gucci and Dolce Gabbana behind a locked door out of sight. Probably hand picked by the director herself. The woman who opened it said, "Oopsie! We don't give these to the ladies who come here." I'm no authority on fashion but I know an Armani Suit when I see one. Toiletries galore but not for the ladies there. The director and her pet staff get first dibs on the finest of donations. I'm sure it's all in my head though and all of their receipts are in order as they should be. Wasn't long after though, they erected those hideous gates and manned them with watchdogs to stand guard. I wasn't even able to go in to see if they had a vacancy. So instead, I called and was told they were not taking any new clients in or out due to Covid. I had more questions but she hung up on me. When I called back, she didn't even answer the phone. I have lived in Las Vegas for more than a half a decade, all my life and The Shade Tree Woman's Shelter was a beacon to those needing shelter in domestic violence situations. Now it feels that they are now the abusers. Shame on your business practices and lack of compassion for humanity. Perhaps your most esteemed monetary contributors would prefer supporting an honest and reputable organization that is not only transparent but goes above and beyond to lift women and children out of violence & abuse instead of playing favorites as they did with me in my darkest days of need. I feel as though I were discriminated against.

WOW! HOW RUDE! I work for a fortune 100 company and we recently moved locations and had about 75 misc dishes we wanted to donate to Shade Tree. We were willing to bring them to Shade Tree we just needed details. I called and started to explain that we had lots of dishes and the lady who answered was SO RUDE, she didn't even let me finish my sentence and said "let me transfer you" She transferred me, it rang and rang and someone picked up the phone and hung it up. I called back and explained I was being transferred and was disconnected (although it sounded like a hang up to me) and the lady said "ok" (wow, far from professional) and transferred me again. It rang and rang again and once again someone actually picked up the phone and hung it up. Definitely rude and unprofessional....we'll now be donated our items, time, energy and effort to the DAV (disabled american veterans).

Volunteered here for school. Awesome location, and Marian is a great volunteer coordinator! Always responds to emails, and is very helpful!

Volunteered here a couple of weekends ago and was surprised to see how many women and children reside in this shelter. What a great organization Shade Tree is as they are helping so many people. My volunteer group and I plan to volunteer here as often as we can!

I was a client here, they really do care about the women and children. They provide one of the best services to women and children in need.

Today I had the AMAZING opportunity to work with the women, children and volunteers at The Shade Tree. It was a truly rewarding experience and brought a tear to my eye to see so many people come out and get together to make a stranger's holiday special. God Bless you all! :)

What these volunteers do here is amazing. There isn't a right word to describe it. I've volunteered here a couple times and I always feel like I could be volunteering longer, the time flies by! There us always something to be doing here.

I went to the Shade Tree in 2009. I went back to my abusive situation because of how I was treated there. I have an Associate Degree and wanted to update my resume. The staff told me the computer room was closed because they didn't have anyone to assist the clients. I offered to help clients but no one ever got back to me about it. I had to leave by 9:00 am and couldn't return until 4:30 pm. The last day I was there I came on my period and wasn't feeling well. I had been told that we could use our phone in the bedding area until 10:00 pm. I was lying down talking on the phone when one of the staff members came into the room and told me to get off the phone. I told her I was told I could be on the phone until 10 and she told me real nasty that she didn't care what I was told I had to get off the phone. I got off the phone, packed my things and left. The women and children who go to the Shady Tree go there for support. If the staff and volunteers can't give them the support they need and treat them with respect and dignity then they shouldn't work there. I work in customer service and I treat people how I want to be treated. I'm not rude or mean or inconsiderate of their feeling no matter what kind of day I'm having. If you're going to be treated meanly and controlled when you seek help then why even bother leaving your abusive situation. It's like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. As for the Shady Tree being a program and not a shelter that's a bunch of crap. If they are supposed to be instilling the skills to get and maintain a job and housing they have to offer the skills training and support. If that is their intention then they need to go back to the drawing board and reevaluate what they are doing. They need to hire staff who are going to make it their mission to give the women support and training to make them viable productive citizens without being rude and mean to them.

It seems like they are doing wonderful things here. However, as someone who tried to volunteer, they were unprofessional, didn't follow up, and couldn't be bothered to respond to emails. If they weren't interested in volunteers, I wish they had been more explicit rather than wasting well-intentioned people's time.

Donation not important enough for it to be moved inside. I had four very large bags of large sized women clothing and a trash bag of smaller clothing with new large sized underwear (panties and bras) for the Shade Tree. The last time I donated my items were immediately taken indoors. On October 1 I was told to just put them in the bin in the upper lot. After I started driving out with the clothes still in my car the security guard stopped me and told me I could take them to the lower parking lot to be taken in. I did what he said and he brought a wheeled bin to my car so I could put the bags in. The porter from Shade Tree came out of the elevator and said that he had other things to do and he would get to my donation. I pointed out the rain clouds that were coming in from the west. He reiterated that he would get to my stuff when he was ready to move it. So I loaded the bags back into my car and said I would donate them else where. The security guard from inside the building came out. The upper level security guard said something to her and she went back inside. It appears to me that Shade Tree is willing to let your donations sit out in the elements until they get around to moving them. I will not donate nor volunteer at Shade Tree based on this experience.

The shade tree also know as the shady tree is not the best place to be when faced with homelessness. The case managers will stick together on a lie and put a family on the street in a heartbeat. There is favoratism and predjudice running rampant in this facility. The shade tree is infested with bedbugs, the food served there is not the tastiest nor the healthiest. The case managers pick and choose who they feel needs help or has not suffered enough based on their opinion. This statement is based on first hand experience. Jasmine Castaneda and Margareda Black do not have the better interest of African Americans at heart. They are not very professional when encountering people of color. My clothing was stolen and it took a week to receive any assistance. I had to wear the same soiled clothing for the entire week while I waited for clothing. If you are DV you need to make sure you meet the requirements. I'm thoroughly disappointed at the way my family and other clients have been treated. I hope this review is not deleted but investigated and changes are made to better assist the clients in need.

Needed shelter because I could not pay the new landlord's rental increase and didn't have savings. The Shade Tree should be torn down and rebuilt. While the concept is extraordinary, the services leave a lot to be desired. You need to hope that you dodge the bed bugs which are so numerous that they are out in the day climbing the walls and walking the floors not to mention hanging out in the bed. There is no such thing as 'nutrition in that the glop that you are served is not only inedible it is three weeks past its sell date and what is not eaten is prepared and served to you the next day. You don't eat hearty here - you hardly eat. And while I realize this is a shelter; it is supposed to be a safe haven which can't be accomplished if you are eaten alive by bed bugs (I have pictures) and there is hardly a nutritional offering. If you complain about the bed bugs which bite every inch of your body you are told the protocol is to put blankets into a bag to be placed in the clothes dryer; maintenance comes along and steams your mattress which is clearly not enough to rid the rooms of these pests. This is the most unhealthy environment for illness, malnutrition and bug bites so awful that they sometimes require a visit to the ER. Shame on the director of this place and shame on the government for not demanding an accounting of how the budget is spent.