Workers laid off in wake of 9/11 helped by $1.3 million

Tuesday, March 26, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

The United Way of Southern Nevada funneled $1.3 million through 30 local nonprofit organizations since Sept. 11 to help laid-off workers, according to a financial report released today.

The assistance included, for example, referrals to helping agencies and rent payments, United Way Executive Director James Kropid said today.

None of the more than $1.3 million raised went toward administrative costs, he said.

"That we didn't take any money for our expenses is significant because administration of these funds took up much of our employees' time," Kropid said. "And we stepped up to meet that need while putting our other projects on the back burner. Now, we are accounting for how the dollars were spent."

In all, the United Way-funded agencies responded to 15,974 contacts from an estimated 16,000 displaced workers -- an average of about one call per worker. However, Kropid said that statistic is coincidental, noting that many of the 7,895 who called seeking information or a referral eventually received financial help as well.

The United Way doled out publicly donated sums to agencies large and small, with the most funds -- greater than $500,000 -- going to Consumer Credit Counseling so the agency could help workers pay rents and mortgages.

The agencies, through the displaced workers program, made 1,355 rent payments, paid 485 utility bills, provided food assistance to 5,115 and issued an additional 153 food vouchers, Kropid said. The agencies also provided 256 bus tokens to 64 people, clothing to 48 people, hygiene items to 112 and emergency medical assistance to 493. Also, 62 military families received assistance through the program.

The fund started with a $10,000 donation from LandWell Co. of Henderson and was boosted by six-figure gifts from the American Civil Liberties Union, Park Place resorts, Clark County and the state of Nevada.

The United Way anted up $100,000 in seed money, and KLAS Channel 8 raised more than $151,000 from a telethon.

Many of the gifts, however, were $10 to $25 donations from the public, Kropid said, noting there also was an anonymous gift of $51,000.

"I called a news conference today to thank the agencies and United Way employees who helped make this program an overwhelming success," Kropid said.

"It should be noted that much of the money that was donated to the fund came after so much money had been donated to help families of victims back East. But I was not surprised by that because this is a very generous community."

Perhaps because so many donations were made in a short period, the United Way predicts its fund-raising drive for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, will fall short of last fiscal year's budget of $12.2 million. To date, the current campaign has raised $6.7 million, Kropid said.

Faced with potential shortfalls, the United Way announced in February that nonprofit agencies that fund youth and health education programs should look elsewhere for additional funding. The agency expects to reduce allocations by up to 30 percent for about 100 of the 150 programs it helps fund. Another 10 job placement programs face up to 13 percent reductions, Kropid said.

About 40 programs that deal with four basic needs -- emergency shelter, housing with life skills programs, food and utility assistance -- are expected to receive full funding, Kropid said.

Meanwhile, all that remains in the United Way's Displaced Workers Fund is $80,000 from a $200,000 grant from the state's tobacco lawsuit settlement money, which must be used for health and dental expenses for children of laid-off workers, Kropid said.

Despite large gifts, the displaced workers fund, during its first two months, neared depletion several times because it was hit hard early on by a barrage of home rent assistance requests.

The Clark County Commission near the end of October allocated $1.6 million for rental assistance through Clark County Social Services and the Clark County Housing Authority, freeing up the United Way to provide other forms of assistance and help a greater number of people.