""We learn how to survive in the dark, and we use those survival skills to continue, even though it keeps us in the dark."

I am just so proud to see that Reno, my longtime home, has worked so hard so fast to combat homelessness. Nashvillians could learn something from the approach and community support Nevadans have put together..... Mar. 29, 2007 Las Vegas Review-Journal Single dad among those urging more funds for homeless Bill providing $20 million backed by local leaders, former and current homeless By AMANDA FEHD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

About 60 homeless people and advocates for the homeless show support for Assembly Bill 126 on Wednesday at the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas. The bill would funnel $20 million over two years to local governments for transitional housing and supportive services. Photo by Gary Thompson.

CARSON CITY -- Reno and Clark County representatives, backed by dozens of homeless advocates, said Wednesday that they support a bill that would funnel $20 million over two years to local governments to help eradicate homelessness in Nevada.

Reno Mayor Bob Cashell and Clark County Assistant Manager Darryl Martin asked lawmakers to keep up the momentum in dealing with Nevada's homeless problem and outlined successes from a $9 million infusion approved by the 2005 Legislature for homeless programs.

James Walker, a single father of a 9-year-old girl, said transitional housing in Las Vegas helped him kick a drug addiction, get a job and find a home for him and his daughter. He urged the Assembly Ways and Means Committee to approve Assembly Bill 126, providing the new funding, so that others can have similar successes.

"One of the things it's hard to get across is how scary it is, how much we want to stay under the radar, how hard it is for us to get the things we need because we are so afraid to go get it," said Walker, adding, "We learn how to survive in the dark, and we use those survival skills to continue, even though it keeps us in the dark.

"I'm going to be a productive citizen again," he said. "It would be a larger tragedy for there to be no room for others to follow me."

About 60 supporters of the bill attended the committee meeting via teleconference from Las Vegas. Before the early morning meeting, advocates served breakfast to homeless people across from the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas.

Linda Lera-Randle El, director of the Straight from the Streets homeless outreach program, said she was inspired by all the support.

"I never thought I'd see the day," said Lera-Randle El, who has been doing homeless outreach for about 20 years in Clark County. "We're not asking for a lot of money. We're asking for a lot of hope."

Mike Lee, an advocate for the homeless who is known as "Las Vegas Superbum," told the committee that he would still be homeless -- or perhaps in jail -- if it weren't for publicly supported state programs.

"My case manager keeps a good eye on me," said Lee, who is in HELP of Southern Nevada's outreach program. "Words cannot express how much we need transitional housing and supportive services."

Nevada has the highest percentage of homeless people in the country, next to Washington, D.C., according to Richard Bartholet of the Nevada Small Business Development Center. The state has about 16,000 homeless people at any given time, but those who experience homelessness each year could be two to three times that number, he said.

Cashell said money from the 2005 session helped build several facilities in Reno that feed and house homeless women, men and families. He said matching funds from several foundations doubled the city's $5 million share of the funding.

He also said the city's goal is to end homelessness, not just manage it.

"Our next step, which we are here today to ask for help in, is to come up with adequate housing. ... Once we get these people on their feet a little bit, we can help get them someplace to solve their problems rather than putting them out on the street where they will come back," Cashell said.

Martin thanked lawmakers for Clark County's $4 million share of the 2005 funding, saying it was used to help house more than 300 people.

"Our focus was on getting these chronic homeless individuals into housing first," Martin said, adding that the county followed up with mental health and substance abuse counseling.

Martin also said that not providing funding for programs can be costly. He said the county previously tracked seven chronic homeless people and found that the cost of medical bills and community services they received added up to $800,000.

Review-Journal writer Lynnette Curtis contributed to this report.