Dear Family Promise Supporter:
Today I am writing you about something very important to the future of transitional housing and supportive service programs for our state. Currently, before our State Legislature is a bill AB-126. This bill has been proposed by Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie. On February 18, 2007, I traveled to Carson City with a large group of supporters in order to participate in a Tent City Event and testify before a legislative committee regarding this bill. This bill is scheduled to go before the Nevada State Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee on March 28,2007. In a nutshell, AB-126 will designate $10 million for Southern Nevada and $10 million for Northern Nevadato address the regional plan for transitional housing and supportive services. These funds are desperately needed by Nevada Regional Homeless Commissions to meet the crisis need of transitional housing as a first priority and then provide wrap-around services to assure successful outcomes for our clients.
How can you help?
On Wednesday, March 28th at 8 a.m. it is critical that we fill the meeting room #4401 ofthe Grant Sawyer Building on the corner of Washington and Las Vegas Boulevard, across from Cashman Field. Onthis date and at this time all attending will be part of a teleconference directly linked to the Nevada State Assembly Ways and Means Committee in Carson City.
Our Assistant County Manager Darryl Martin will be in Carson City with other representatives from our region. At the same time we in Southern Nevada will be gatheringin a meeting room at the State of Nevada Building room #4401 and it is critically important that we fill this room and overflow it if possible to show the support for this much needed financial assistance from our State.
For those of us that provide services to homeless individuals and families we have long recognized that the seriousdeficit of transitional and affordable housing in Southern Nevada is the number one barrier to getting our clientson the “Road to Success”. We must have transitional housing matched with supportive services and we musthave immediate assistance from all corridors of funding to achieve this goal.
I have read many statements from our major faiths this year that include statements of reaching out and assistingour brothers and sisters that are trapped at or below the line for poverty. Sadly, this housing issue affects all ofus. I cannot tell you how many people I know, including my own adult children that struggle to maintain a quality ofhousing in an economy that has spun out of control. If those of us that are working and have never been homeless cannot afford decent quality housing, how can we imagine that individuals and homeless families can even dream of achieving this goal.
It is my hope that all of you that share this mandate to reach out and help those who cannot help themselves willjoin me on Wednesday morning March 28th and become a visually loud and clear message that the community isasking for our states assistance with passage of Assembly Bill AB-126.
Terry Ruth Lindemann, Executive Director
Family Promise of Las Vegas is a 501-(c)3 non-profit organization. This message is non-partisan in content and intended to request support of important program goals of our agency
Please [see below] for more information about this event and Bill AB-126
JOIN US AT 7 A.M. IN FRONT OF CASHMAN FIELD, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GRANT SAWYERBUILDING FOR A BREAKFAST GATHERING. IF POSSIBLE, THE ORGANIZERS FOR THIS BREAKFASTRALLY ASK THAT YOU BRING DONUTS, PASTRIES, JUICE, ETC. FOR SIX HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
My Favorite Quote: “WE MUST BE VISABLE PROOF OF OUR CALLING” (Dietrick Bonhoeffer, Lutheran Minister and WWII Advocate for the rescue of our Jewish brothers and sisters from the hands of the Nazi’s)
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Talking Points on AB 126, “Homelessness Bill”
Ways and Means Committee Presentation 3-28-07
Nevada has the dubious distinction of leading the nation as the state with the highest percentage of its citizens that are homeless, only Washington D.C. is higher. Nevada’s current population is 2,414,807.
Conservatively, approximately 16,000 people at any given time are homeless in Nevada, although the number of individuals who experience homelessness during a year could be 2-3 times that number. People move in and out of homelessness, with most individuals homeless for short periods of time.
A growing amount of research shows that providing transitional/supportive housing to those experiencing homelessness is effective, and cost effective, approach to breaking the cycle of homelessness and strengthening our communities.
AB 126 proposes that $20 million be appropriated to local governments to fund transitional housing with supportive services for targeted homeless populations throughout the State of Nevada. If approved by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, the funds would be disbursed over the biennium, at $10 million per year.
What is the Intent of Transitional Housing?
1. Reduce financial and societal costs to the community
2. Reduce load on mainstream service providers while using resources more effectively and efficiently.
3. Do what is morally right.
1. Reduce financial and societal costs to the community.
Currently, in Northern Nevada $14 million is being spent on homelessness, between social services, law enforcement, first responder, medical, and judicial services. The long-term societal costs are extensive (children’s education, individual independence, mental illness, and family stressors). Programs such as Drug Court and Mental Health Court are perfect examples of how Nevada can effectively dealing with pressing social issues.
2. Reduce load on mainstream service providers while using resources more effectively and efficiently.
Currently there are load/capacity problems and resource inefficiency driven by homeless individuals, especial experienced by service providers related to health care, detention facilities, judicial services and housing services. In Northern Nevada, the biggest provider of homelessness services is the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department. The situation is similar in Clark County and the rural areas of Nevada.
Cost of housing in Washoe County’s Detention Facility $81.51/day
Cost of housing in Northern Nevada's ReStart ANCHOR Program $31/day
Cost of housing in a State of Nevada Shelter (including care programs)
$26/day
3. Do what is morally right.
Everyone has a right to housing. The fastest growing segment of those experiencing homelessness are women and families, while the number of homeless youth is increasing. Approximately 14% of the homeless population are veterans. The most common factors leading to homelessness in Northern Nevada are domestic violence, inability to find an affordable house or apartment, unemployment, sudden illness in the family, and unforeseen major expenses, such as medical and car repairs. Approximately 20% of the homeless population is chronically homeless, mostly individuals with substance abuse problems and mental illness.
The Unmet Need of Beds in Nevada
Southern Nevada
Transitional housing beds - 1,382
Permanent-supportive housing beds - 2,589 (240 for families)
Reno, Sparks & Washoe County
Transitional housing beds - 120
Permanent-supportive housing beds - 821 (474 for families)
Rural Areas
Transitional housing beds - 489
Permanent-supportive housing beds - 999 (702 for families)
There is a more effective and resource efficient strategy to solving the issue of homelessness: this is to provide well-designed housing and supportive services for those who experience homelessness.
What Can Be Done?
Call, write, and speak to your State Senate or Assembly representative and show you support for AB 126. Visit www.leg.state.nv.us to find out who your representatives are and their contact information.
Contact members of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and urge them to support AB 126. Go to www.leg.state.nv.us for a list of the committee members.
Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers.
Write a letter of support for AB 126 and email it to ajmcclure@planevada.org by March 21st. The submissions will be given to the Ways & Means Committee.
Attend the Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 28 at 8am, either in Carson City or by teleconference in Las Vegas. We need large numbers of people to show up in support for this important and much needed legislation. Your participation can make the difference!
If you would like more information
Contact PLAN at (775) 348-7557 or (702) 791-1965
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