Homeless task force disagrees on its course

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Friday, April 19, 2002 | 11 a.m.

Though budgetary items in a regional plan to reduce homelessness were narrowly approved, membership in a task force meeting Thursday was sharply divided over the very philosophy on which the plan is based.

The task force, headed by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, is now in its second year of work on a plan that must eventually be approved by the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition.

The plan's five points are: developing a trust fund for homeless services and housing; helping the homeless find jobs; coordinating federal, state and local programs to prevent homelessness; building up mental health programs; and creating more affordable housing.

In its last meeting March 21, budgetary items proved contentious, but Thursday it was agreed that the task force would commit up to $25,000 for start-up costs, with technical input from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and an additional $50,000 in seed money for hiring a private consultant who would raise $500,000 during a six-month period.

Additionally, a controversy over the $155,000 cost of a voice mail system for the homeless that arose in the previous meeting appeared to be resolved by an offer to provide the same system at no cost from a local company, Agape Telecom.

This meeting's main sticking point proved to be the makeup of the executive board that would oversee the plan once it is approved by the planning coalition.

One side, represented by Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny and North Las Vegas Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, said the board should include only elected officials, since part of the funds it will administer will be public.

"When taxpayers' money is involved, when something goes wrong, cameras and constituents will want our faces and our voices," Kenny said.

But members of the task force outside of government said the board should be broader based.

"I understand that you're the power base here, together with Las Vegas," said Pastor Charles Bowker, president of the Interfaith Hospitality Network, addressing Kenny.

"But maybe we should try some plan other than political control ... Should the private sector and nonprofits just nod to your decisions?"

Goodman said the matter should be left to the planning coalition to decide.

Smith called that a mistake, saying a lack of consensus could resurface further on in the process, when local municipalities that make up the planning coalition must buy into the plan.

"All this hard work could be killed further on down the road," she said.