"The Shade Tree was established in 1990 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 Nevada Governor's Commission on Status of Women was established by Governor Grant Sawyer in 1965. In 1975, it was renamed the Commission on Status of People and was active from 1975-1977. In 2015 it was reinstated as the Nevada Commission for Women.