Statewide homeless count almost 12,000

Kirsten Searer and Cy Ryan

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005 | 8:42 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The most comprehensive count ever of the state's homeless population shows at least 11,794 people live without permanent shelter.

That includes an estimated 4,189 people who live on the streets and 1,668 people who are receiving some sort of housing aid in Clark County, officials told the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee on Monday.

The numbers were presented the same day that Assemblyman Bob McCleary, D-Las Vegas, testified on his bill to create an interim study on homelessness and waive fees so that homeless people can obtain identification cards.

Many homeless people lose their cards or have them stolen, making it almost impossible for them to obtain help, several advocates testified Monday.

McCleary said Assembly Bill 84 "comes out of guilt" because he passes by a homeless shelter most days on his way to work.

"I wish I were bringing forth a list of recommendations to solve this problem," he said, adding that he was frustrated with the issue because there are no easy answers.

McCleary said he hoped the committee will continue to look at the problem.

The count of homeless people was conducted Jan. 27 in Clark and Washoe counties. And, for the first time, law enforcement, shelters, hospitals and motels in rural areas such as Carson City, Gardnerville, Minden, Elko, Fallon, Tonopah, Ely and other areas participated in the study, said Kelly Marschall, a consultant who worked on the count of homeless people outside of Clark County.

Marschall said the effort received unprecedented support but the counts are still "a very conservative snapshot, not the complete picture."

The number of homeless people rises to 23,234 when including another 4,537 people who live in motels in Northern Nevada and the rural areas, along with another 7,092 people in Clark County who "double-up" with other families because they cannot afford their own home, according to presentations made to the committee.

The ranks of the homeless are being increased by housing becoming less affordable, said Paula Haynes-Green, Clark County regional homeless services coordinator. People on minimum wage can't afford housing in Las Vegas, especially now that housing costs are increasing so much, she said.

"Where are all the working poor going to go?" she asked.

Also on Monday, Philip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said the Bush administration has proposed a $4 billion budget next fiscal year to fight homelessness, an 8.5 percent increase over the present year.

The news came as a surprise to Leslie, who pointed out news articles saying Clark County could lose millions in federal low-income housing money by 2010 under proposed cuts by the Bush administration. Haynes-Green said she hoped that some of the money had been reinstated, and she would look into the matter this week.

The government should do a better job of targeting people who are at risk to be homeless, such as prisoners being released from jail, foster children who grow out of the system and veterans, Mangano told the Assembly health committee. Mangano also told a faith-based rally at the Nevada Legislature on Monday that the problem of homelessness can be solved in 10 years, The rally attracted about 150 people in front of the legislative building and was organized by the Rev. Rob Jennings-Teats, senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Carson City. Jennings-Teats said he wanted to see homes and jobs for the homeless and agreed with Mangano that the problem could be corrected within a decade. Jennings-Teats estimated there are 400 children without homes in Carson City, and that does not count the chronic homeless.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, in a proclamation read to the rally, created an interagency council on homelessness with a membership of up to 20 people. The council is charged with working with the federal government and local governments to develop a 10-year plan "to address chronic homelessness."

Guinn's proclamation, read by Lisa Foster, assistant chief of staff, said addressing the homeless problem "requires collaboration among state agencies, local governments, the private sector and service provider networks."

The announcement at the rally drew applause. Mangano said, "Isn't it about time this happened?" He said every other governor in country has created a similar council.