Plan for use of marijuana revenue evolves

Plans by Clark County to earmark up to $12 million in marijuana fees to address homelessness have evolved from the “housing first” approach outlined when the proposal was approved in January.

In a presentation before the County Commission on Tuesday, Assistant County Manager Kevin Schiller said the money should be put to “more flexible, more creative and more responsive” uses.

A primary goal, he told commissioners, is preventing those on the brink of homelessness from ending up on the streets by creating a diversion program that combines short-term services and financial assistance.

For example, he said, the county could help an individual with onemonth rental assistance, a car or house repair or a utility deposit.

“(The) investment of that $3,300 to maintain that individual in that place of residence, in their stable housing, well outweighs the longer term investment if they become homeless,” he said.

The commissioners voted on Jan. 22 to direct the marijuana money to homelessness programs and initially indicated they favored a “housing-first” strategy to assist the approximately 6,000 homeless people countywide, along with an expansion of case management resources.

Chairwoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, who introduced the plan, was supportive of the new directions outlined in Tuesday’s presentation. She requested that staff continue to provide the commission with monthly updates of milestones and new information as funding begins to flow to the various initiatives.

Schiller said the additional revenue will enable the county to build on the roughly $37 million in grants and federal funds it receives to fund a variety of social services and housing programs.

Contact Briana Erickson at berickson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5244. Follow @brianaerick on Twitter.