Proposed HUD budget would add to Southern Nevada funds

Valerie Miller

Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2000 | 10:13 a.m.

A new Department of Housing and Urban Development budget proposed by President Clinton could result in more money for housing in Southern Nevada.

The proposed HUD budget for 2001, unveiled Monday, includes a $6 billion increase nationwide, to $32 billion, HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo said via satellite teleconference.

The budget now goes to Congress.

If the 2001 HUD budget is approved, figures show Las Vegas could receive as much as $13.4 million, a $1.6 million increase from the 2000 budget. North Las Vegas would receive $2.8 million, an increase of $772,766.

Henderson would get $1.1 million, a $90,558 increase, while Clark County could jump $2 million from $12 million to $14 million.

"Some of the funds could go to assist with the homeless in the Las Vegas area and help to provide them with continued care," Kenneth LoBene, the state coordinator for HUD in Las Vegas, said.

Such programs include not only food and shelter, but counseling, treatment and job training to help the homeless become self-sufficient, LoBene said.

Estimates on the number of homeless in the Las Vegas Valley vary from 6,700 to 12,000.

The funds also will support Community Development block grants, emergency shelter grants, housing programs for people with AIDS, public housing subsidies and voucher programs, LoBene said.

"With Southern Nevada going through a period of great prosperity, we have to try to make sure everybody can take part and benefit from it," he said.