Clark County’s homeless population is growing rapidly but the number of homeless service providers aren’t. Burnout and lower pay compared with other industries make retention and recruitment a struggle, say managers of these nonprofits. “The need has increased and our staffing hasn’t,” said Sesany Fennie-Jones, executive director of Council for the Homeless, the central nonprofit addressing homelessness in Clark County.
Funding hasn’t kept up, either. So in addition to hearing devastating stories from people in their darkest moments, homeless service providers grapple with low pay and often must tell desperate people there is no quick help available. “We’re constantly looking for folks that can handle the pain of not being able to provide that resource, this moment, today,” Fennie-Jones said.
People who can help others find shelter, affordable housing, mental health care and addiction treatment are essential to reducing homelessness in Clark County, homeless service providers say. But working in the field is more challenging than ever, with a mental health and addiction crisis occurring simultaneously. Substance use and mental health issues have been a particular problem for getting people into housing, said Brondalyn Coleman, deputy director of Share, a nonprofit that helps homeless people navigate resources.
Staff of homeless service providers, including Share, recently attended a training through the University of Oklahoma called “Managing Aggressive Be.
