No takers for teachers’ housing grant

Dan Kulin

Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006 | 8:20 a.m.

Las Vegas is having a hard time giving away money.

The city set aside $500,000 in May for a program to give qualified teachers up to $30,000 each to help them buy a house. So far there have been no takers.

To get the money out of the city coffers and into teacher's hands, city and Clark County School District officials say they may need to loosen some of the restrictions on the money.

Currently, the money can go only to new math, science or special education teachers at one of the three public high schools in the city. School District Housing Coordinator Sue Phillips proposes eliminating those restrictions so the money could go to any teacher at any school.

"We just want to get the money out the door and the teachers into houses," Phillips said. "I think we need to open it up to any teacher at any school."

City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, a former member of the School Board, said adding more schools to the list is probably a good idea. Under the current rules, only teachers at Western, Clark or Desert Pines high schools qualify for the funds.

Tarkanian also said the council might consider dropping a requirement that recipients must keep their teaching job for 10 years; those who do not can be asked to pay back part of the money they received from the city. A five-year requirement perhaps would be more appropriate, Tarkanian said.

Ken Lange, executive director of the Nevada State Education Association, the state teachers' union, said loosening the qualification standards and other rules regarding the assistance would be welcome.

"Anything that can be done to relax the regulations and expand the eligibility would be helpful to the teachers," he said.

The Homeownership for Educators Program was expected to help recruit teachers to certain difficult-to-fill positions, as well as boost homeownership among educators. The $500,000 program was expected to help 16 teachers buy houses or condominiums.

But when there were no takers, Phillips had the principals at the three high schools survey qualified teachers.

What they discovered was that many new teachers were not sure they wanted to stay in Las Vegas for the 10 years required to receive the grant, some did not want to buy a home right away and others were worried they would only be able to afford a home in a bad neighborhood, Phillips said.

Another issue was that with Las Vegas' housing prices so high, and starting teacher's salaries at $30,000 a year, many would not qualify for mortgages on the homes they might want, she said.

"A lot of them have to change their mind-set and realize that their first home won't be their dream home, but they have to get their foot in the door to build equity," Phillips said.

Phillips said one issue that is more difficult to address is the income restrictions placed on the city money.

To qualify, a teacher must earn less than $33,100 a year. Although that is not an issue for new teachers, it could be a stumbling block for some if the program is opened up to veteran teachers as well.

Dan Kulin can be reached at 259-8826 or at dan@lasvegassun.com.