1999 Exemplary Program Initiative
Award Recipient
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The Salvation Army
Las Vegas, NV
 In
a city synonymous with glitz and glamour, The Salvation Army of
Las Vegas, Nevada, is well known for its compassion. The Salvation
Army has been in operation in the Las Vegas/Clark County area since
1945, and has operated its PATH program for the past six years.
Because of its dedication to homeless people with serious mental
illnesses and the array of services it offers at one location, Kevin
Crowe of the Nevada Division of Mental Health & Developmental
Services nominated The Salvation Army as a PATH exemplary program
for FY 1999.
"Salvation Army Las Vegas programs are truly community-based,"
Crowe said. "I'm always impressed with their efforts to attend
our training and invite us to their many programs and services.
They are an unbelievable asset to Nevada."
Programs and Services
One of three PATH-funded service providers in Nevada, The Salvation
Army received $192,000 in PATH funding in FY 1999. This represented
more than 10 percent of its total funding toward services for homeless
people with serious mental illnesses. With this funding, The Salvation
Army served 548 PATH clients in FY 1999, of whom 293 were new clients.
Through a variety of funding sources, The Salvation Army offers
many programs for PATH clients, including:
- a day resource center that provides a wide range of services;
- an adult rehabilitation program for both short- and long-term
addiction treatment;
- an emergency kitchen that provides about 250,000 meals a year
at the shelter and on the streets;
- a 156-capacity emergency shelter for men, women and children;
- a Safe Haven shelter that provides temporary housing for homeless
people with serious mental illness;
- a 42-bed group home; and
- vocational training and placement.
Housing and Mental Health Services
The Salvation Army's PATH program works in conjunction with its
Emergency Services program to offer a variety of housing opportunities
for clients. First, emergency shelter (seven to 14 days) is provided
for up to 125 individuals at a time. Then, extended stay shelter
(three months to a year) is often made available to PATH clients.
While there, clients can participate in classes that focus on returning
to independent living, and can receive state assistance with psychiatric
care, case management and medications.
Some clients are referred to The Salvation Army's 42-bed group
home, where they can stay for up to two years. Through the group
home's programs, clients can receive life skills education, medication
management assistance, transportation, mental health counseling,
help obtaining benefits, and vocational training. The Salvation
Army also offers a 70-unit transitional housing apartment complex,
a 42-bed transitional dormitory, and a 25-bed Safe Haven facility.
Of the 293 new PATH clients, 275 were given assistance through
The Salvation Army's Homeless Services program, which include medication
management and transportation to medical appointments.
 Service
Coordination
During its six years with the PATH program, The Salvation Army
has forged a number of partnerships in its community. The Salvation
Army works hand-in-hand with local and regional mental health service
providers, the County health agency's economic opportunity division,
and Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. The Salvation Army is
also a member of the Southern Nevada Homeless Coalition, a body
of 79 people and organizations responsible for writing the Continuum
of Care proposal for the Las Vegas area.
Consumer Involvement
The Salvation Army has employed consumers as lodging managers,
who assist in oversight of the emergency shelter at night, secretaries,
drivers, and mental health technicians. The Salvation Army consumer
employees voice their opinions during regular staff meetings, and
PATH clients participate actively during regular program meetings.
For more information about the The Salvation Army Las Vegas,
contact B. Duane Sonnenberg at (702) 657-0123, ext. 15, or bdclsonnenberg@netzero.net
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