Public-private teamwork tried on senior care

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, May 15, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

Despite a setback earlier this year, Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley and Sen. Harry Reid are pursuing plans to develop an affordable housing complex for seniors in the Las Vegas Valley.

Buckley, D-Las Vegas, in January asked Gov. Kenny Guinn to set aside $6 million of his budget to help fund the first phase of an 80-unit housing facility for seniors. But she was left empty-handed when Guinn cut back on programs because of the growing deficit in state revenues.

Instead of abandoning the project, Buckley and Reid, D-Nev., have turned to the city of Las Vegas, Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and the Bureau of Land Management in a unique public-private partnership to promote assisted living for seniors.

The Las Vegas City Council today was scheduled to consider allocating $1 million in federal funds toward the development of the senior complex.

The donation would be added to a more than $800,000 contribution from Harrah's, along with funding from the state Housing Division. Buckley expects a total of $2.4 million will be committed by donors to partially fund the $4 million to 5 million project.

Reid is proposing legislation to grant two BLM-owned sites to the city of Las Vegas -- one near Decatur Boulevard and Deer Springs Way and another near Washington Avenue and Durango Drive -- to be used for senior housing or another civic use.

As the valley's residents continue to age and more seniors retire in Las Vegas, many find themselves without affordable housing options, said Sharon Segerblom, the city's neighborhood services director.

At least 13 percent of Clark County's population is 62 years of age or older, of whom 8 percent are considered low income residents, she said.

"There is a terrible need for affordable housing," Segerblom said. "Not only are there people retiring here who are aging, but we have a population that is aging as well."

The proposed assisted living center would give seniors a place to live and to receive health care. Residents would have access to on-site visits from heath care providers and preventative care such as flu shots.

Buckley said the monthly rent charged to seniors -- below $1,000 -- would cover the costs of operations.

Once the council decides whether to commit funding, a nonprofit developer will be selected and be required to obtain the remaining funds needed to complete the project.

Buckley said she is in discussions with state leaders to form a new waiver program that would have the state contribute funding to help with the operations of the medical portion of the complex.

It would allow the state to spend $800 a month to help with the operating costs of the senior housing complex instead of putting $4,000 toward the cost of a nursing home per month, she said.

"We just have a booming aging population and so many of our seniors are on fixed incomes, and there's basically nothing for them in the way of housing options," Buckley said.