Editorial: Vote is one thing, plan is another

Thursday, June 12, 2003 | 8:50 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman on Monday joined with other mayors in supporting President Bush's plan to end chronic homelessness within 10 years. Goodman's support was indicated when he voted in favor of a resolution endorsing the Bush plan during the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Denver.

The Bush plan targets those for whom homelessness has become a way of life, the people who survive for years on end by eating and sleeping at shelters provided by local governments. This population of chronic homeless people is estimated to be about 200,000 nationwide -- 10 percent of the 2 million people who are homeless at any given time. Applying the 10 percent figure locally, Southern Nevada's chronic homeless population would be about 1,000.

Under the Bush plan, federal funds would help localities develop housing and social programs for those who are chronically homeless. The philosophy is that without chronic homeless people clogging shelters, there would be more capacity to serve those who become temporarily homeless -- thus virtually ending homelessness altogether. Bush prepped the plan last December, when he authorized federal contracts with faith-based organizations. He sees them as central in forming the public-private partnerships that will provide the homeless services.

Now that Goodman has endorsed the Bush plan in concept, we'll be watching to see if he takes the next step. Federal homeless funds will go only to those cities that submit a plan, one that involves many segments of the community. Now in his fifth year as mayor, Goodman has become well known for vilifying the homeless. But he has yet to offer anything close to a plan for assisting them. Now's his chance.