In Nevada, Homeless Numbers Rise as Services Are Cut

Boulder City, Nevada -- The conditions in the state of Nevada mirrors conditions seen in many of the other states in the U.S. Thousands of people are without jobs, losing their homes, and in many instances losing everything. Some of these people have no place to go but to the street. At this point, things in Las Vegas are not getting any better. As of right now, thousands of people are homeless.

Social Services play a very important role in providing essential services to the people of Las Vegas and other areas of the country. This includes the elderly, the disabled, and the homeless. Well, thanks to the budget cuts passed by the state legislatures, funding for certain social service programs is being cut or may be lost all together. For instance, Clark County Social Services has a housing program which provides assistance to the elderly, the disabled, and the homeless. As of this month, Las Vegas Now reports that there will be $9.5 million in cuts to programs which may cause the program to disappear all together by November. This means that more people will become homeless and more makeshift tents will be lined up alongside Las Vegas streets.

The homeless situation in the Las Vegas Valley has been a growing problem for the last several years, but now with the economic slump and budget cuts, things are getting even worse. About a month ago, I took a drive through the heart of the Las Vegas Valley in the area near downtown and North Las Vegas and saw some heartbreaking sights. On the sides of many streets there were dozens of tents clustered near each other. The conditions in these areas are very unsanitary. A lot of litter and clothes line these streets and the smell in the area is horrible. It is quite apparent that the homeless do not have many places to go. It is so bad now that, according to Associated Press, more families and people who live in the rural and suburban areas of the United States are becoming homeless. Over a one year period from late 2007 to late 2008, the number of families that were using homeless shelters rose by 9%.

Just a couple of weeks ago, a friend and I went to a McDonald's to get a drink, and a man was standing in front off to the side. He asked us if we could get him a burger. At first, we said no as we walked inside. Then we thought about it for a minute. I had suddenly had a change of heart because I realized that this person did not ask for money. He had asked for food. I realized that if I gave him food it would be going into his stomach and that he wouldn't be using money for other purposes. I got him a McDouble burger, a fry, and a small drink. Doing this will make a person feel good. I know it made me feel good.

Not too long ago, my father was doing electrical work at a library in Las Vegas and he told me that he saw homeless people coming in to get some relief from the heat. Of course, there were complaints from others in the library in regards to the smell. According to my father, Ed Bush, "the people working at the library called someone to pick the people up so that they could get cleaned up." Then they would be allowed back. As the numbers of homeless people continue to grow, they will edge closer and closer to residential areas. We can push them away, but that will not solve the problem.

When we see the row of tents lined up along one of Las Vegas's busiest streets, we can't help but think what our future holds and what their future holds. With the significant cuts to social services, more and more people will be sent to the curb. This is a time when all of us should try to lend a helping hand. I am not talking about handing a hundred dollar bill to anyone on the street, but there is nothing wrong with buying someone a little bit of food. We would want someone to do that for us if we were in the same situation.

Sources:

"Social Workers Plead for Fewer Budget Cuts", Las Vegas Now.

Associated Press, "Homeless Numbers Include More Families", Las Vegas Sun.