Tardy filling causes EOB to be cut out of contract

Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005 | 7:52 a.m.

The Economic Opportunity Board, the Las Vegas Valley's largest nonprofit organization, was cut out of a $278,000 contract to help the homeless because it didn't complete required paperwork on time, officials said.

The money was part of a first-ever $4 million appropriation from the state Legislature to help get the chronically homeless off the streets.

The bulk of those funds -- $3.1 million -- went to HELP of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit organization that formed a coalition for a pilot project centered on helping people who have been on the streets the longest.

The EOB was one of seven groups in the coalition and provides drug abuse treatment and child care to the homeless. But it didn't send HELP a required contract and proof of insurance by a Nov. 1 deadline, said Terrie Stanfill, HELP executive director.

"Everyone else did exactly what they needed to do," Stanfill said.

"So now it's like, 'Next?' "

Linda Lera-Randle El, director of Straight from the Streets, one of the nonprofit organizations involved in the consortium, said "I feel like it's a letdown."

"Now we have to find (drug abuse treatment services) somewhere else."

The EOB didn't return calls seeking comment.

Stanfill is now talking with other organizations to provide the drug treatment homeless people may need during the two-year period of the project.

"This is the first time seven organizations without any turf problems will be working together to make a difference in the lives of the chronically homeless," she said.

"It is going to be a successful pilot project no matter what, and we're not taking any chances."

Timothy Pratt can be reached at 259-8828 or at timothy@lasvegassun.com.