Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 13–Assemblymen Parks, Anderson, Andonov, Angle, Arberry, Atkinson, Beers, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Chowning, Christensen, Claborn, Collins, Conklin, Geddes, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goicoechea, Goldwater, Grady, Griffin, Gustavson, Hardy, Hettrick, Horne, Knecht, Koivisto, Leslie, Mabey, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, McCleary, Mortenson, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Perkins, Pierce, Sherer, Weber and Williams
Joint Sponsors: Senators Rawson, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Cegavske, Coffin, Hardy, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, Nolan, O’Connell, Raggio, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Tiffany, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener
Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Designating March 31, 2003, as Homeless Awareness Day in Nevada.
Whereas, The 2002 Needs Assessment report from the Division
of Mental Health and Developmental Services of the Department of
Human Resources indicates there were 7,612 people in homeless
shelters in Las Vegas and Reno in the year 2000, with a need to
serve at least 16,049 people, and with 42 percent of these being
families with children under 18 years of age; and
Whereas, Recent estimates from service and housing providers
indicate there are at least 16,300 literally homeless and precariously
housed people in the greater Las Vegas area and approximately
6,500 literally homeless and precariously housed people in the
Reno and Sparks area; and
Whereas, Nationally, approximately 11 percent of homeless
people are veterans, but nearly one-third of the homeless population
in Clark County are veterans; and
Whereas, In Nevada, approximately 55 percent of the
homeless population are white, 35 percent are African-American
and 10 percent are Latino; and
Whereas, Studies indicate that between 70 and 80 percent of
the homeless people in Nevada are unemployed, while those who
are employed work day-labor jobs earning less than $400 a month;
and
Whereas, According to service and housing providers, the
major barriers homeless people face in trying to find employment
are the lack of child care, unmet needs regarding transportation,
disqualifying criminal backgrounds, inability to afford a Sheriff’s
card or other costs, and potential employers’ distrust and lack of
understanding about their situation; and
Whereas, The “Focus on Homeless Families with Children
Policy Academy,” a federally sponsored program consisting of key
state and local administrators, state Legislators and nonprofit
executives has prepared a “State Action Plan,” and continues to
meet and gather data on various aspects of homelessness, including
establishing baseline data on the homeless client population,
developing an inventory of affordable housing units, and
developing an inventory of services for homeless clients; and
Whereas, The Task Force for the Fund for a Healthy Nevada
awarded Community Chest, Inc., a grant of $89,000 for Fiscal Year
2003-2004 and $25,000 for Fiscal Year 2004-2005 to create a
documentary on homeless youth in Nevada; and
Whereas, The members of the Nevada Legislature recognize
the outstanding efforts of the numerous state and local
governmental agencies and various nonprofit entities dedicated to
fighting the homeless problem in the State of Nevada; now,
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the
Senate Concurring, That March 31, 2003, is hereby designated
as Homeless Awareness Day in Nevada; and be it further
Resolved, That the members of the 72nd Session of the
Nevada Legislature hereby express their commitment to creating a
greater public awareness of the problem of homelessness in Nevada
and to continue to work cooperatively to solve this problem; and be
it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and
transmit a copy of this resolution to Marybel Batjer, Chief of Staff
to Governor Kenny C. Guinn and Chairman of the Nevada Policy
Academy Team on Homeless Families with Children.
20~~~~~03