County OKs cuts in rental assistance

At a time of skyrocketing need, help for the poorest Clark County residents just became harder to come by.

The County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved new Social Service guidelines that will cut the number of months many needy people can receive emergency rental and utility assistance.

The cost-cutting move probably will lead to more people in Southern Nevada becoming or remaining homeless, said Nancy McLane, the county's director of Social Service.

"We're not going to be able to meet the need," she said.

Many of the thousands who seek help from the county each year will see their eligibility period for aid shrink from three months to one month under the new guidelines, McLane said.

Those who have "barriers to employment" such as disabilities will remain eligible for longer-term assistance, she said.

The new guidelines, which go into effect Monday, also require those applying for aid to have a Nevada ID.

Currently, about a quarter of rental assistance recipients do not have local IDs, McLane said.

Applicants previously had to show only "an intent" to reside in Clark County.

Projected savings from the new guidelines add up to about $2 million this fiscal year, McLane said.

The county will work with about $9.5 million, instead of an originally budgeted $11.5 million.

The more restrictive Social Service guidelines will "help us stretch those dollars," Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid said.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.