In a time of need, Henderson’s Hopelink taking a hit

By Jeremy Twitchell

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 | midnight

Homeless prevention programs at Hopelink Family Resource Center, Henderson's main provider of housing assistance for low-income families, are taking a big hit this year as the state funds that support them were reduced.

In the first week of October, Hopelink received about $300,000 from Clark County and $121,000 from Henderson to support the programs — far short of the nearly $700,000 combined that Hopelink received from the two sources last year, Hopelink Executive Director Daniele Dreitzer said.

Hopelink provides one-time rent, mortgage and utility assistance for families in danger of losing their homes. The programs are funded by the state's Low Income Housing Trust Fund, which distributes money to cities and counties to hand out to local agencies that assist low-income families.

But as home sales have decreased statewide, the real estate transfer tax revenue that supports the trust fund has shrunk.

"We will be able to serve fewer people with rent and utility assistance at a time when more and more people need that kind of help," Dreitzer said. "It's a challenge. There's a tremendous amount of need."

The requirements for the assistance program are also becoming more difficult for people to meet, Dreitzer said. In order to receive help, Hopelink clients are required to show that if they receive the one-time assistance, they will be able to meet the financial obligations the following month.

It's a painful requirement designed to ensure that the money goes where it will do the most good, rather than stave off the inevitable. But as unemployment continues to rise, many clients are unable to prove a steady future income.

Each week, the agency fields hundreds of calls for help and uses a pre-screening process to select 30 to 40 applicants over the phone to come in and meet with agency staff for a full review of their situation.

But a growing number of those who pass the pre-screening aren't showing up for those appointments, Dreitzer said, probably because they can't provide any income documentation.

"With all the job losses, it's becoming more difficult for clients to show that," Dreitzer said. "And there really isn't a grant source out there for folks in that situation."

Dreitzer said Hopelink has been searching for other grant sources and private donations to make up the shortfall but has been unsuccessful. The agency was one of dozens of applicants turned away by United Way, which earlier this month announced $2 million in funding for 39 Southern Nevada health and human services programs.

Dreitzer said United Way received more than $8 million in requests for the $2 million it had available.

Now, she is appealing to the Henderson community for donations to help fund the programs. Hopelink is also looking for residents and businesses who are willing to adopt a needy family for Christmas.

"It's a challenging time out there," Dreitzer said. "It's challenging on all fronts. Any help we can get would be greatly appreciated."