City Of Las Vegas: Helping The Homeless

Las Vegas NV

12 May, 2022

4:08 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Las Vegas: May 11, 2022 We continue to provide homeless services in order to effectively connect homeless individuals to the appropriate support services and enforce mitigation efforts to maintain the public health and safety of the community. Below is a list of programs and facilities currently in operation to help break the cycle of homelessness. If you know someone who needs help, please visit lasvegasnevada.gov/homeless The Arrow The Arrow is a free shuttle service that connects the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center at 314 Foremaster Lane to 19 essential public and private service sites across the valley. Specially wrapped 24-seat shuttle buses will operate on two distinct routes covering both the east and west sides of the valley. The two-route service, operated by Keolis Transit, will run seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with the first and last stop at the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center. Learn more at lasvegasnevada.gov/arrow. MORE Teams To help the homeless, we have 5 Multi-Agency Outreach Resource Engagement (MORE Teams) that have seven-day coverage to make contact with homeless individuals around the city. MORE Teams have made contact with 7,423 homeless individuals from September 2020 through February 2021. The Multi-Agency Outreach Resource Engagement (MORE Teams) Services: Housing assessmentAccess to shelters and neighborhood organizationsEncampment interactionAccess to Courtyard services The MORE Teams partners: Case workers Human services professionals (HELP of Southern Nevada, WestCare, Salvation Army) Law enforcement support (Deputy City Marshals and LVMPD) You can contact the MORE Team if you have concerns about anyone currently living on the streets by calling 702-229-MORE. Anyone who needs to access services or needs more information on the Homeless Courtyard Resource Center can get information at lasvegasnevada.gov/homeless MORE teams can help transport clients to shelter, housing, detox/rehab programs and to follow-up appointments. Law enforcement partners help connect homeless individuals to resources by making the initial introduction between the individuals and resources, and provide community policing to help foster relationships with unhoused individuals seeking assistance. Currently have 5 MORE Teams, providing 7 day coverage MORE Team 1: Assigned to Downtown Area Command with LVMPDMORE Team 2: Assigned to Bolden Area CommandMORE Team 3: Assigned to all CLV jurisdictionMORE Team 4: Weekend coverage, no assigned areaMORE Team 5: Overnight coverage, assigned to downtown Community Advocacy Resources and Engagement (CARE) Team The LVMPD Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) is expanding its ability to assist the community even further with the addition of the Community Advocacy Resources and Engagement (CARE) Team. The LVMPD and community partners strive to establish non-traditional policing endeavors to identify solutions for significant social disorders that cannot be solved through enforcement, arrest, incarceration, and prosecution alone. The CARE team will provide a stronger focus on long-term solutions to many behavioral, societal, and mental concerns felt by our citizens. The team will assist area commands to effectively provide community resources to both adults and juveniles experiencing crisis. The CARE Team can provide on-scene response to calls for service, follow-up home visits, treatment needs, transitional placement, transitional housing, diversion program, and an ongoing support system. This is a co-responder team consisting of Officers from the Office of Community Engagement Section who will partner with social workers. Together, they will meet with clients, conduct assessments, and provide treatment plans. The CARE Team founded by Clark County began to assist the community in February of 2022 and has made 163 contacts in Spring Valley Area Command. The City of Las Vegas is currently in the process of hiring social workers and their teams should be active soon within Bolden Area Command and Downtown Area Command. Courtyard Homeless Resource Center The first phase of the expanded Courtyard Homeless Resource Center opened in January 2022. A new covered sleeping area will allow for 800 guests at a time to have a safe place to go and access a myriad of services. The Courtyard will continue to be a "low-barrier" navigation center, meaning anyone can gain entrance to the facility. The expansion includes a covered outdoor area, a guest services building, a day room, and shower and restroom facilities. Soon after that phase opens the city will start work on phase two of the Courtyard, which will include an administration building, pet kennel and parking lot. The administration building will house laundry services, additional showers, office spaces for service providers and additional wrap-around services. Phase two should be completed by the end of the 2022. By offering a one-stop shop with access to medical, housing and employment services through a variety partners, the cycle of homelessness can be broken. Since August 2017, the city and service providers at the Courtyard have been assisting in getting homeless off the streets and into housing. Through the Courtyard, the city has connected those in need to mental health providers, legal assistance and job information. In 2021, more than 6,500 individuals accessed services at the Courtyard. Currently, the Courtyard is open seven days a week 24 hours a day. Get help by calling 702-229-6117 or [email protected] To receive the weekly calendar of activities and supportive services provided at the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center, sign-up for the newsletter. Recuperative Care Center The Recuperative Care Center is a 38 bed facility for patients who do not require hospitalization but still need care to recuperate from medical illness or injury. Recently, a special ADA-compliant van to transport homeless patients to medical and social services appointments throughout the Las Vegas valley was added. Cares for acute/post-acute hospital discharges for homeless individualsGuests are recovering from illness without required hospitalization, but exacerbated by homelessness Guests not accepted to shelters due to their higher level of required medical care and liabilityGuests receive medical treatment and connected to Intensive Case Management (ICM) to facilitate barriers and the transition to self-sufficiency Fresh Start Homeless Court Program at Municipal Court Purpose To identify and connect homeless criminal defendants to resources to help them attain stable housing and stable income, to reduce homelessness and criminal activity related to homelessness. Goals Reduce homelessness and related crime in the City of Las VegasDecrease law enforcement and jail resources utilized to cite, arrest, and process homelessness related crimeStop the cycle of cite, arrest, and closed cases with incarceration, rather than solving the root issue of homelessness Eligibility Individuals who are homeless within the City of Las Vegas limitsHave one or more criminal charges with Las Vegas Municipal CourtAll criminal cases, excluding battery domestic violence, DUI, stalking, TPO violations, and harassment This press release was produced by the City of Las Vegas. The views expressed here are the author's own.