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Public commenters urge coordinated responses to homelessness and substance-use issues
Summary
Members of the public told the council that homelessness and substance-use problems are growing locally and suggested the city consider models from other jurisdictions that focus on coordinated diversion and social-service responses rather than repeated arrest-and-release cycles.
During the public-comment period, a speaker who said they had been studying models in other cities urged the council to consider coordinated responses for people who are unhoused and experiencing substance-use disorders. The commenter said programs that create a ‘‘circle’’ of services rather than cycling people through short-term arrest and release have shown promise in other jurisdictions and could be adapted locally.
The commenter used North Las Vegas as an example of a place where law enforcement, trespass tools and limited social-service options are deployed differently because of scale; they said some elements of that approach could be adapted to Price. ‘‘We just create this circle,’’ the commenter said, describing the goal of connecting people to services rather than repeatedly incarcerating them for petty offenses. The comment noted changing language norms (‘‘unhoused’’ rather than ‘‘homeless’’) and emphasized treatment- and housing-focused responses.
Council members thanked the speaker and said staff and the chief already discuss these issues with partners; council asked staff to continue exploring local service options and coordination with county and regional providers. No policy action was taken this evening.
