Homeless people are shown on a Las Vegas sidewalk.
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 | 2 a.m.
There are over 5,000 homeless people living on the streets of Clark County and tens of thousands more who are housing unstable or living in unsanitary, overcrowded or otherwise unsafe conditions. More than 200 homeless people die in Southern Nevada each year. These numbers reflect the lack of a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness as well as the layers of bureaucracy that make accessing services all but impossible.
To end the cycles of poverty, substance abuse, mental health challenges and other underlying causes of homelessness, Nevada needs effective leadership, meaningful collaboration and a commitment to prioritizing efficient outcomes rather than prioritizing bureaucratic paper-pushing.
Fortunately, Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager and his colleagues in the Legislature took meaningful action to address the crisis over the weekend, introducing and passing AB 528. The legislation creates a $100 million matching fund for a lead organization to design and construct a facility that would provide a one-stop shop for programs and services that assist homeless people on their journey towards permanent housing.
The bill is a continuation of work that began before the pandemic on how to unite the current patchwork of underfunded nonprofit and government entities that provide services to homeless populations under one roof. According to the Nevada Resort Association, it has the financial backing of many resort companies in Las Vegas, including Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Red Rock Resorts, South Point, Venetian and Wynn Resorts.
Las Vegas is known for being home to people who came here from a variety of places and under a variety of circumstances. The same is true of Las Vegas’ homeless population, which is an array of people whose stories and situations are as diverse as the city around them.
What may have started years ago as a short-term economic setback or a lifesaving decision to escape domestic abuse may have led to chronic homelessness today. Homelessness among our veterans is a national shame. Teens and young adults may have been forced from their home for coming out as LGBTQ+ or escaping an abusive parent. Homeless seniors may simply be unable to afford both rent and medication while living on a fixed income. Others may be facing challenging substance-use disorders or mental health crises. And against the backdrop of all of this, the number of entire families who find themselves homeless is steadily climbing.
AB 528 envisions a central location where a broad variety of services would be available to help people rebuild their lives. Such a center would be better equipped to offer customized solutions that address the specific causes and risk factors leading an person or family to face the prospect of homelessness. It is modeled after the unified services offered by Haven for Hope, an ambitious program with a successful track-record in San Antonio.
Haven for Hope launched in 2010 and serves people who are drug and alcohol-free and are committed to working towards the goal of housing and sustainability. For those who are not drug- and alcohol-free, they have partnerships with local rehabilitation and treatment facilities.
Once inside the Haven for Hope campus, team members connect unhoused people with nonprofits and government agencies that can best serve them. Most of the organizations, agencies and vocational services have a physical presence at the campus. This means people receiving services need only walk down the hall rather than arranging repeated transportation across town. People receiving services also work with case managers to develop personal financial management and other skills that can put them on a path to financial stability. Throughout their time in the facility, residents receive safe sleeping conditions, reliable access to showers, laundry and other hygiene essentials and three meals a day from a local food bank.
In a nod to its commitment to collaboration and radical compassion, the food bank regularly employs rehabilitated ex-offenders to prepare the meals, providing a path for them to reintegrate into society while holding a reliable job that pays a fair wage.
The results speak for themselves. A fact sheet released by Haven for Hope shows that they helped secure permanent housing for over 1,000 people per year since their founding. More than 91% of the clients who found permanent housing through Haven for Hope have remained in stable housing for at least one year. They also secured employment opportunities for approximately 500 clients each year, helping them earn living wages and become financially self-sufficient.
With the funding created by AB 528, a similar facility could be constructed in Southern Nevada. It’s an effective model with a proven track record of reducing homelessness and improving public safety in our communities while still treating homeless people with dignity and compassion.
Yeager and the Legislature should be commended for assuming the mantle of leadership and passing AB 528. We call on Gov. Joe Lombardo to follow their lead and sign the bill into law without delay. Clark County needs its own haven where hope, support and opportunity are abundant, even for those who are still in search of a permanent place to call home.
